BoxRec

12 (or 15) Rounds Heavyweight Bout

Even though Norris was slick and slippery with his good boxing skills and movement, Mercer would bang his face with his long left jabs and cutting him off the ring to work on the body to take a decision. What do you guys think and who do you got?

Orlin Norris was too small for the heavyweights. A very good cruiserweight champion, though.


Ray Mercer by knockout in 6

Norris by ud

Mercer would tire early and Norris would outhustle him.

Norris by near shutout.

Mercer by knockout

Quite a difference in opinion. It pretty much depends on what version of Mercer shows up. If he mails it in like he sometimes did, Norris could outhustle him and take a decision. If Mercer fought like he was capable of, he would win.

Mercer by late round stoppage, around the 8th.

Who did Mercer kayo as good as Norris? He couldn't stop Ferguson in two tries. A Mercer kayo seems extremely unlikely

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2025, 19:06 Who did Mercer kayo as good as Norris? He couldn't stop Ferguson in two tries. A Mercer kayo seems extremely unlikely

Okay, we'll agree on this one. I'd even go so far as to say that Norris would have won a pretty wide decision.

Mercer was significantly better. It's surprising, that we have such a split here.

This probably because of the wide range of performance's that Mercer had.

If someone focuses on Mercer's fights against Ferguson, then they would probably go with Norris.
If someone instead focuses on Mercer's fights against Morrison, Holyfield and Lewis, they would go with Mercer.

Id favor Norris pretty heavily over Morrison who for whatever reason is badly overrated.

How do losing efforts to Holyfield and Lewis help Mercers case? Both were incredibly inconsistent and prone to terrible performances

I like Norris on points.

It's all a matter of if Mercer lands the KO shot or not. If he doesn't, then Norris wins a UD.

If Mercer isn't in top shape, and on his A game he probably ain't gonna land that shot.

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑17 Mar 2025, 12:16 Id favor Norris pretty heavily over Morrison who for whatever reason is badly overrated.

How do losing efforts to Holyfield and Lewis help Mercers case? Both were incredibly inconsistent and prone to terrible performances

Well, I wouldn't favor Norris over Morrison, but ok.

Here is a thought. You could actually watch the Mercer-Holyfield fight and the Lewis-Mercer fight. How about trying that?


Neither Holyfield or Lewis had "terrible performances in their fights with Mercer. Both were very good. Mercer was competitive with Holyfield. Mercer easily could have got the decision over Lewis.

There is no way that Norris would have done as well as Mercer did in those fights and would have lost convincingly if Mercer fought that well against him.

Holyfield fought at an extremely low pace against Mercer. He was more accurate and landing the harder punches but the fight was competitive because of his low output. Norris could presumably pick up the pace and be more active.

I don't think Morrison is better than guys like Snipes and Ferguson who Norris actually beat. Let alone the Tucker that most had Norris beating.