BoxRec

How do you see a fight between Tyson and Mercer going in their primes?

For the people that believe Holyfield had Tyson's number, Mercer was just as tough as Holyfied and had a better punch but was less skilled.

How do you see it playing out?

Tyson wins a wide decision. Mercer would've made Tyson work for every round won, and may even drop him once late, but Tyson was more skilled and would land so much more and more cleanly that he's take it on the cards.

I wouldn't be surprised if he stops Mercer. I thought this would be some sort of handicap match, say, around 1995. Prime-for-prime? Tyson was streets ahead of Mercer. At the least, he would win handsomely on points.

A good side question would be what odds you guys would give Tyson for stopping the following men...

George Chuvalo
Tex Cobb

Those were two guys who were the iron-jawed non-pareils of the previous generation, who stood toe-to-toe with the best of the Heavys & were rarely, if ever, stopped --- & probably never from concussive blows. How would Tyson's offense do against those two?

Mercer was talked about as a possible opponent as early as 1989, & I would say Tyson of then TKO's Mercer. Ray had a great chin, but Tyson would have landed many a shot & would have stopped him on his feet.

One thing that stands out about this thread, Tyson wanted to fight Mercer in January 2002 in preparation for Lewis, which happened some five months later. Lewis took action (legal action I think) & prevented the fight from happening. Something along those lines anyway.

I feel Lewis, having been in there with Mercer himself, knew Ray would have given Tyson a hard fight, thus it would have made Mike sharper, got his timing down, etc.

My logic is that Tommy Morrison won every minute of his fight with Mercer until being decapitated, and Tyson would never get KO'd by Mercer in a million years. Tyson by wide UD or late stoppage.

Rocky Balboa wrote:Mercer was talked about as a possible opponent as early as 1989, & I would say Tyson of then TKO's Mercer. Ray had a great chin, but Tyson would have landed many a shot & would have stopped him on his feet.

One thing that stands out about this thread, Tyson wanted to fight Mercer in January 2002 in preparation for Lewis, which happened some five months later. Lewis took action (legal action I think) & prevented the fight from happening. Something along those lines anyway.

I feel Lewis, having been in there with Mercer himself, knew Ray would have given Tyson a hard fight, thus it would have made Mike sharper, got his timing down, etc.

I remember there being talk about Tyson-Mercer, but I don't remember it being that late. I thought it was a couple of years earlier than that. I think a fight with Mercer would have been a smart fight for Tyson to take. However, look at the oppoents that Tyson fiought between the Holyfield fights and the Lewis fight. It was weak compeitition. I think that not fighting tough oppoents was a factor in Tyson's decline. He was no longer sharp. A fight with Mercer would have been riskier, but you have to take risks sometimes.

As far as what would have happened, I think more depends on what version of Maercer we are talking about than Tyson. He was a very incosnistent fighter; sometimes in the same fight. (Morrison and Damiani for example.)

The Mercer that fought Holyfield and Lewis would have had a serious chance against Tyson. The Mercer who fought Holmes and Ferguson would have no chance.

Rocky Balboa wrote:Mercer was talked about as a possible opponent as early as 1989, & I would say Tyson of then TKO's Mercer. Ray had a great chin, but Tyson would have landed many a shot & would have stopped him on his feet.

One thing that stands out about this thread, Tyson wanted to fight Mercer in January 2002 in preparation for Lewis, which happened some five months later. Lewis took action (legal action I think) & prevented the fight from happening. Something along those lines anyway.

I feel Lewis, having been in there with Mercer himself, knew Ray would have given Tyson a hard fight, thus it would have made Mike sharper, got his timing down, etc.

Possible, but my feeling is Lewis was just over the decade-old circus of Tyson avoiding him, & wanted to get the fucken thing done already.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:

Rocky Balboa wrote:Mercer was talked about as a possible opponent as early as 1989, & I would say Tyson of then TKO's Mercer. Ray had a great chin, but Tyson would have landed many a shot & would have stopped him on his feet.

One thing that stands out about this thread, Tyson wanted to fight Mercer in January 2002 in preparation for Lewis, which happened some five months later. Lewis took action (legal action I think) & prevented the fight from happening. Something along those lines anyway.

I feel Lewis, having been in there with Mercer himself, knew Ray would have given Tyson a hard fight, thus it would have made Mike sharper, got his timing down, etc.

Possible, but my feeling is Lewis was just over the decade-old circus of Tyson avoiding him, & wanted to get the fucken thing done already.

or that if tyson gave up/brain snapped/didnt look any good it could cost him millions

Good point.

If a fast, combination punching Holyfield (who was fantastic), could drop Mercer, I am sure a peak Iron Mike could too, and follow up for the finish.

It goes the distance; Mercer was better than Razor Ruddock, and tougher; I am inclined to think Tyson would win it, but due to Mike's weak psyche, its plausible Mercer breaks him

Grimm wrote:How do you see a fight between Tyson and Mercer going in their primes?

For the people that believe Holyfield had Tyson's number, Mercer was just as tough as Holyfied and had a better punch but was less skilled.

How do you see it playing out?

Are u serious?
Why didn't u do it as Tyson(2002) vs Mercer? Or even 1996?

BarryWashington wrote:

gambler49 wrote:

Grimm wrote:How do you see a fight between Tyson and Mercer going in their primes?

For the people that believe Holyfield had Tyson's number, Mercer was just as tough as Holyfied and had a better punch but was less skilled.

How do you see it playing out?

Are u serious?
Why didn't u do it as Tyson(2002) vs Mercer? Or even 1996?

A 2002 version of Tyson would get destroyed by a prime Mercer, so would a '96 version (of Tyson).

I think a 2002 version might get beat, but destroyed could be a bit strong. 1996 version would be interesting, although I'd go for Tyson here. I think ur overestimating Mercer!

Rocky Balboa wrote:Mercer was talked about as a possible opponent as early as 1989, & I would say Tyson of then TKO's Mercer. Ray had a great chin, but Tyson would have landed many a shot & would have stopped him on his feet.

One thing that stands out about this thread, Tyson wanted to fight Mercer in January 2002 in preparation for Lewis, which happened some five months later. Lewis took action (legal action I think) & prevented the fight from happening. Something along those lines anyway.

I feel Lewis, having been in there with Mercer himself, knew Ray would have given Tyson a hard fight, thus it would have made Mike sharper, got his timing down, etc.

You're right Lewis's attorney said that "frankly we're not sure Tyson beats Mercer". They wanted to stop Mercer beating Tyson before Lewis could get his hands on Mike and all those millions for beating a empty shell of a man.

Tyson would murk him

In their prime ... Tyson either knocks Mercer out inside of a few rounds or badly puts a beating on him.
Ray had a good chin I'll say that for him,but prime Tyson was a different animal and would most likely have stopped Mercer.

tyson very easily