Ike Ibeabuchi vs . Ray Mercer

[Vladimir5555]

I think it was be a big sluggerfest.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think Mercer was better at his best, but you can never count on him being in shape. Might have to bet Ike by close decision on activity. I think it would have been the kind of fight that people pretend Ike/Tua was. Maybe it's because I saw it after the fact, but I don't think I've ever been more disappointed by a talked up fight.

[dempseyfire]

At their peak give me the guy with the jab (Mercer), but Ike has the better conditioning and work-rate, pretty even matchup.

The funny thing about Ike-Tua is I remember watching it live with a bunch of friends and at the time it seemed like an incredible fight (of course expectations were pretty low). Watched it years later and I don't see it as a great slugfest at all; just a decent brawl. Shows you how expectations can temper a fight's perception. Although there have been many fights which I watched after being talked up and they met those expectations; I didn't see Barrera-McKinney until years after it happened and if anything it exceeded what I'd heard it would be.

[gilgamesh]

I think Mercer was better at his best, but you can never count on him being in shape. Might have to bet Ike by close decision on activity. I think it would have been the kind of fight that people pretend Ike/Tua was. Maybe it's because I saw it after the fact, but I don't think I've ever been more disappointed by a talked up fight.

I was quite letdown by Tua/Ibeabuchi as well. It's a good fight, but certainly not the all time classic it's made out to be by fans.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

At their peak give me the guy with the jab (Mercer), but Ike has the better conditioning and work-rate, pretty even matchup.

The funny thing about Ike-Tua is I remember watching it live with a bunch of friends and at the time it seemed like an incredible fight (of course expectations were pretty low). Watched it years later and I don't see it as a great slugfest at all; just a decent brawl. Shows you how expectations can temper a fight's perception. Although there have been many fights which I watched after being talked up and they met those expectations; I didn't see Barrera-McKinney until years after it happened and if anything it exceeded what I thought it would be.

So many people told me how great it was and it's always one of the first fights mentioned in a Heavyweight fights thread. It's not like it sucked, but it lacked drama to me. Neither of them could hurt the other, it was almost like watching a video game with damage turned off and they just flailed on the buttons.

[Rover]

Best v. best, Mercer on points for me; his jab would win it.