Ray Mercer vs. Don Steele

Ray Mercer 233 lbs beat Don Steele 249 lbs by KO at 3:00 in round 5 of 10

• Date: 2001-03-17
• Location: Silver Star Casino, Philadelphia, Mississippi, USA
• Referee: Elmo Adolph

Aired On: Fox Sports Net

Notes:

• Steele was bleeding from the nose after the 1st Round.
• Action paused with 1:13 remaining in Round 2 as Steele lost his mouthpiece.
• Steele staggered by a left hook in Round 3.
• Steele had substantial swelling under both eyes by the end of the 3rd Round.
• Steele was knocked out of the ring by a right hand to the body in Round 5.

Comments:

• This was the 2nd consecutive fight that Ray Mercer knocked his opponent out of the ring. In his previous fight, Mercer knocked Jeff Pegues through the ropes and onto the announcers table. In this fight, Don Steele went through the ropes, over the table on onto the concrete floor.
• Ray Mercer worked almost exclusively with the jab in this fight. Early on, Steele used head movement to dodge some of Mercer's shots, but as the rounds wore on Mercer began to land with nearly every jab he pumped out.