Ray Mercer vs. Andrew Golota

[scorpio83]

12 Rounds Heavyweight Bout

In their rematch from the 1988 Olympic at heavyweight, Mercer would make no mercy on Golota behind his jabs and body punches to either take a decision or making Golota quit after 10 rounds or action. What do you guys think and who do you got?

[2128778]

I think, had they fought in mid-90's - it could've been anyone's fight. Mercer was running hot and cold. And Golota pre-Bowe was pretty formidable.

But at their very best, Mercer beats Golota.

[gilgamesh]

Mercer is the kinda guy that you can't imagine at some point wouldn't either KO Golota or make him mentally unravel and do something stupid.

Golota could get the better of Mercer early in the fight, just like he did Bowe because he was a big, strong guy with skill. He wouldn't be able to knock out Mercer though, and as he started to bleed, and sweat, and gasp for air as the pressure of Mercer kept coming. Well...you all know Golota. What's he gonna do? He's gonna unravel, and it's either going to result in a KO or DQ win for Mercer.

[elmersalsa]

If Andrew Golota got his mind right, he wins by decision. If not, Ray Mercer wins by DQ.

[gilgamesh]

If Andrew Golota got his mind right, he wins by decision. If not, Ray Mercer wins by DQ.

If this fight happens in 2003 then yes Golota wins.

Ironically he seemed to get his head right after his physical prime had passed him by. In his draw with Chris Byrd, and his narrow decision loss to John Ruiz (I thought he deserved the nod over Ruiz by the way) he kept his sh*t together even when the going got tough, but he just wasn't as capable as he would've been 4 or 5 years prior.

But in the 90's, there's no way Golota doesn't mentally unravel against Mercer's pressure.

Hell he unraveled against Bowe and Michael Grant in fights where he was well ahead, and winning comfortably. No way that Mercer couldn't give him at least as many problems as Grant did.