What If? Mercer - Damiani

[595179]

Damiani was clearly winning the fight with Mercer until his nose was broken. If the Italian had avoided that shot and sailed to a UD, what do you think would have happened to their respective careers?

[DrDuke]

Despite losing to Mercer, Damiani still received an opportunity to face Holyfield later in 1991. Yet he was injured and replaced by Bert Cooper. I guess, in that time he was waiting his opportunity for the shot with the major belts at stake. So, in a case of beating Mercer he most likely wouldn't face Morrison, who was next on the WBO line. Anyway, be it against Morrison or Holyfield, Damiani would likely lose and finish his career close to how he had actually ended up.

[595179]

Despite losing to Mercer, Damiani still received an opportunity to face Holyfield later in 1991. Yet he was injured and replaced by Bert Cooper. I guess, in that time he was waiting his opportunity for the shot with the major belts at stake. So, in a case of beating Mercer he most likely wouldn't face Morrison, who was next on the WBO line. Anyway, be it against Morrison or Holyfield, Damiani would likely lose and finish his career close to how he had actually ended up.

I would have picked Damiani over Morrison. An Olympic silver medalist against a guy who struggled with Yuri Vaulin.

[wouter]

I would have picked Damiani over Morrison. An Olympic silver medalist against a guy who struggled with Yuri Vaulin.

Agreed. For Mercer's career it wouldn't have made much of a difference if Damiani beat him.

[DrDuke]

Despite losing to Mercer, Damiani still received an opportunity to face Holyfield later in 1991. Yet he was injured and replaced by Bert Cooper. I guess, in that time he was waiting his opportunity for the shot with the major belts at stake. So, in a case of beating Mercer he most likely wouldn't face Morrison, who was next on the WBO line. Anyway, be it against Morrison or Holyfield, Damiani would likely lose and finish his career close to how he had actually ended up.

I would have picked Damiani over Morrison. An Olympic silver medalist against a guy who struggled with Yuri Vaulin.

How his Olympic credibility speaks for him in the pros? Tyrell Biggs won the Gold at that Olympics and against Damiani, should he be considered as a top notch pro boxer? Morrison was significantly more accomplished on the pro ring.

[595179]

Despite losing to Mercer, Damiani still received an opportunity to face Holyfield later in 1991. Yet he was injured and replaced by Bert Cooper. I guess, in that time he was waiting his opportunity for the shot with the major belts at stake. So, in a case of beating Mercer he most likely wouldn't face Morrison, who was next on the WBO line. Anyway, be it against Morrison or Holyfield, Damiani would likely lose and finish his career close to how he had actually ended up.

I would have picked Damiani over Morrison. An Olympic silver medalist against a guy who struggled with Yuri Vaulin.

How his Olympic credibility speaks for him in the pros? Tyrell Biggs won the Gold at that Olympics and against Damiani, should he be considered as a top notch pro boxer? Morrison was significantly more accomplished on the pro ring.

Damiani only lost to Mercer and McCall, both of whom were a handful for several top heavyweights. They don't just give away Olympic silver medals. Damiani was a skilled boxer and that showed in the first eight rounds of the Mercer fight,

Morrison got flattened by Michael Bentt and had life and death with Williams and Joe Hipp.

[DrDuke]

I would have picked Damiani over Morrison. An Olympic silver medalist against a guy who struggled with Yuri Vaulin.

How his Olympic credibility speaks for him in the pros? Tyrell Biggs won the Gold at that Olympics and against Damiani, should he be considered as a top notch pro boxer? Morrison was significantly more accomplished on the pro ring.

Damiani only lost to Mercer and McCall, both of whom were a handful for several top heavyweights. They don't just give away Olympic silver medals. Damiani was a skilled boxer and that showed in the first eight rounds of the Mercer fight,

Morrison got flattened by Michael Bentt and had life and death with Williams and Joe Hipp.

They don't just give away Olympic silver medals, but the Golden ones for different Tyrells Biggses don't impress you much for some reason.

Ok, the loss count was executed pretty well. Now try to take a look at the wins.

[595179]

How his Olympic credibility speaks for him in the pros? Tyrell Biggs won the Gold at that Olympics and against Damiani, should he be considered as a top notch pro boxer? Morrison was significantly more accomplished on the pro ring.

Damiani only lost to Mercer and McCall, both of whom were a handful for several top heavyweights. They don't just give away Olympic silver medals. Damiani was a skilled boxer and that showed in the first eight rounds of the Mercer fight,

Morrison got flattened by Michael Bentt and had life and death with Williams and Joe Hipp.

They don't just give away Olympic silver medals, but the Golden ones for different Tyrells Biggses don't impress you much for some reason.

Ok, the loss count was executed pretty well. Now try to take a look at the wins.

Foreman was 43 years old when Morrison beat him. I see no reason why Damiani wouldn't do the same.

[DrDuke]

Damiani only lost to Mercer and McCall, both of whom were a handful for several top heavyweights. They don't just give away Olympic silver medals. Damiani was a skilled boxer and that showed in the first eight rounds of the Mercer fight,

Morrison got flattened by Michael Bentt and had life and death with Williams and Joe Hipp.

They don't just give away Olympic silver medals, but the Golden ones for different Tyrells Biggses don't impress you much for some reason.

Ok, the loss count was executed pretty well. Now try to take a look at the wins.

Foreman was 43 years old when Morrison beat him. I see no reason why Damiani wouldn't do the same.

But... Damiani didn't do that. Btw, it's great to acknowledge, that Foreman was the single Morrison's win worthy of mentioning.

[595179]

They don't just give away Olympic silver medals, but the Golden ones for different Tyrells Biggses don't impress you much for some reason.

Ok, the loss count was executed pretty well. Now try to take a look at the wins.

Foreman was 43 years old when Morrison beat him. I see no reason why Damiani wouldn't do the same.

But... Damiani didn't do that. Btw, it's great to acknowledge, that Foreman was the single Morrison's win worthy of mentioning.

It is, unless you class beating ancient versions of Quick Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Or you count the life and death with Truth Williams (a guy Tyson put away in 1 and Weaver did in 2) or Razor Ruddock (flattened in 2 by Lewis)?

[DrDuke]

Foreman was 43 years old when Morrison beat him. I see no reason why Damiani wouldn't do the same.

But... Damiani didn't do that. Btw, it's great to acknowledge, that Foreman was the single Morrison's win worthy of mentioning.

It is, unless you class beating ancient versions of Quick Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Or you count the life and death with Truth Williams (a guy Tyson put away in 1 and Weaver did in 2) or Razor Ruddock (flattened in 2 by Lewis)?

Surely it can't even be compared with winning the great Tyrell Biggs, Johnny du Plooy and Greg Page of the '92 version.

[595179]

But... Damiani didn't do that. Btw, it's great to acknowledge, that Foreman was the single Morrison's win worthy of mentioning.

It is, unless you class beating ancient versions of Quick Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Or you count the life and death with Truth Williams (a guy Tyson put away in 1 and Weaver did in 2) or Razor Ruddock (flattened in 2 by Lewis)?

Surely it can't even be compared with winning the great Tyrell Biggs, Johnny du Plooy and Greg Page of the '92 version.

Foreman fight aside, their records are similar, but again, Big George was ancient. Damiani did a hell of a lot better against Mercer than Tommy did.

[DrDuke]

It is, unless you class beating ancient versions of Quick Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Or you count the life and death with Truth Williams (a guy Tyson put away in 1 and Weaver did in 2) or Razor Ruddock (flattened in 2 by Lewis)?

Surely it can't even be compared with winning the great Tyrell Biggs, Johnny du Plooy and Greg Page of the '92 version.

Foreman fight aside, their records are similar, but again, Big George was ancient.

Williams and Ruddock were clearly better than Biggs and Du Plooy.

[DrDuke]

Damiani did a hell of a lot better against Mercer than Tommy did.

Damiani would end up KOed with what Mercer took from Tommy.

[595179]

Damiani did a hell of a lot better against Mercer than Tommy did.

Damiani would end up KOed with what Mercer took from Tommy.

Exactly, but do you know why he didn't take those punches? Because he was a much better boxer than Morrison. It's quite simple really.

[DrDuke]

Damiani did a hell of a lot better against Mercer than Tommy did.

Damiani would end up KOed with what Mercer took from Tommy.

Exactly, but do you know why he didn't take those punches? Because he was a much better boxer than Morrison. It's quite simple really.

He was better at some things, but he was slower, less hard-hitting and hittable enough.

[Caractacus]

what if Damiani would not have been hit with the "freak" punch to the nose by Mercer ?
what were the score cards going into that round ?

[DrDuke]

what if Damiani would not have been hit with the "freak" punch to the nose by Mercer ?
what were the score cards going into that round ?

79-73, 78-74 and 79-74.

[595179]

what if Damiani would not have been hit with the "freak" punch to the nose by Mercer ?
what were the score cards going into that round ?

79-73, 78-74 and 79-74.

The Italian handled Mercer a lot better than Mr Morrison.

[DrDuke]

what if Damiani would not have been hit with the "freak" punch to the nose by Mercer ?
what were the score cards going into that round ?

79-73, 78-74 and 79-74.

The Italian handled Mercer a lot better than Mr Morrison.

Jesse Furguson handled Mercer better than both those. Probably he'd destroy both those bums. Foreman also handled Norton and Frazier better than Ali. And Tyson handled Holmes better than Holyfield.

Using an argument of fighter A winning several rounds more over fighter B, than fighter C did, before both A and C got KOed, to propose a thesis of A being better than C is injudicious. Especially if in whole fighter A has a clearly inferior resume in comparison to fighter C.

[Perseus]

what if Damiani would not have been hit with the "freak" punch to the nose by Mercer ?
what were the score cards going into that round ?

79-73, 78-74 and 79-74.

The Italian handled Mercer a lot better than Mr Morrison.

..........and still got stopped.

Mercer was behind on all three scorecards when he stopped Morrison too.
The Duke wobbled Mercer in the 1st & 3rd rounds plus had him bleeding from his mouth.
Tommy was handling Mercer just fine until Ray landed a big shot.

[Caractacus]

Morrison had virtually "knocked himself out" by the time
Mercer landed those (Merciless) barrage of punches against the ropes.
Mercer claimed Morrison was breathing heavily on him and that was when he knew it was time to take him out.

[DrDuke]

Morrison had wrong plan for Mercer. He was prepared only for a one scenario, without any alternative. He came in the ring to KO Mercer, he did his best for that, but Ray appeared to be too tough. Mercer took Tommy's best shots, Morrison punched himself out and was finished. It would be interesting to see Morrison boxing against Mercer like Damiani did, or like Tommy himself would do against Foreman. It could have been a different fight.

[Caractacus]

I watched the fight again yesterday, and I don't think Morrison ever landed
any of his best shots on him like he had done on other fighters.

[DrDuke]

He landed the Tyson-like upstairs-downstairs shifts clean on Mercer. Those were pretty much Tommy's money punches.