Ray Mercer (boxing)

[H2O Man]

Earlier this week, 1988 Olympic and IBF heavyweight champion was coming to a town not far from me. My son and I had planned to go meet with him, but our schedule was a bit delayed as it includes his wife and their ten month old son. When they picked me up, I said I hoped that Ray Mercer hadn't left. But my daughter-in-law said she had called, and Ray would be there.

It's not every day that one gets to sit down for a meal with one of the toughest heavyweight fighters of the 1990s. Now Ray, who only took up the sport at the age of 23 while in the military, did turn pro in 1989, and fought until 2008, but his best years were in the '90s. We had a blast talking about his career, and his opinion of other fighters. I'm thinking a couple of these might be of interest to members of this DU sports forum.

I found his fight against Tommy Morrison to be extremely impressive. Around that time in 1991, I became good friends with a new employee at the mental health clinic. Over the years, we became the best community crises response team in the region, many times being called outside of our county. Mt friend aso liked the great sport, and favored the 27 - 0 Morrison, while I favored the 17 - 0 Mercer.

This wasn't only because Ray had decisioned Tommy in the amateurs. It had more to do with each one's performances and quality of opposition. While Tommy had some big names on his record, they were both way past their primes and on losing streaks when he beat them. Ray had fought high quality opposition, including some not long after their primes, and in his previous bout, an undefeated (27 - 0) contender for the WBO heavyweight title/

I told Ray that each year, I post film of his devastating knockout of Morrison on my buddy's facebook page. He laughed and asked, "Really?" My son assured him that it is a tradition I enjoy. So Ray autographed a photo of him landing the most brutal punch on Tommy for my friend. He explained that he knew the type of steroid Tommy had been using, and that Tommy would be gassed by the 5th or 6th round. He also said that Morrison's punches were painful to take, especially the body shots.

My son asked him about his fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Tony Sylvia in 2009. At first, it was supposed to be a boxing match, but Tony could not get licensed to box a former heavyweight champion in his debut. There was some back and forth about if there would be a MMA fight. But nothing was settled on fight night. Ray was upset he wasn't getting a fight and thus paid, and he started drinking as he watched the undercard. By the time the bout was agreed upon, he told us he was very intoxicated. He won by a one-punch KO in 9 seconds.

Ray was impressed by my son's accomplishments in the amateurs, and asked why he hadn't turned pro? Despite my saying that his primary responsibilities were now to his wife and son -- who remained quiet at this point -- I was outnumbered. Ray had questions about my ring experience, and also my "record" as a trainer. He was curious why I passed on an offer a couple years ago to be a co-trainer for the national (amateur) team?

After I explained the three reasons I'm not interested in participating these days -- the damage it does to fighters, the terrible corruption, and because of my 10-month old grandson -- Ray pulled me aside. He said, "You are a good trainer. You build fighters, preparing them physically and mentally. Boxing needs people like you." He said that now he is thinking of moving up near us, and we talked about the lack of boxing gyms. I noted that my main focus these days is my grandson.

"Yeah, but look," Ray said. "Your grandson is wearing the boxing trunks here that your son said you bought for him. And we both know that little boy is going to be the world champion when he grows up!" We then shared a laugh as more people in the restaurant were coming to see my beautiful grandson than an ex-heavyweight champion.

[Me.]

1. As An Expert Myself

I agree with everything you said....

[H2O Man]

2. As an old man

who never liked getting punched in any of the boxing matches or even sparring I engaged in, I'll speculate that you are agreeing with my reasons I do not want either my son or daughter who competed in the ring to do so again. My older brother suffered and eventually died as a result of being a boxer who would take five punches to land one -- because with that one, he usually won. But that isn't good for the human brain. And while mst people recognize the sport is corrupt, they tend to associate it with the money involved in big fights. After 60+ years in the sport, I can say without risk of error that it is just as corrupt at every level.

The strange thing, of course, is that I find boxers to be the most interesting people I encounter. Most -- though certainly not all -- are actually gentle people outside of the ring. I remember a show (either Mike Douglas or Merv) from either the late 1960s or early '70s) where a psychiatrist was a guest. He was talking about how complex human beings are. At one point, he noted that while boxing was the most violent of sports, he found boxers to be the moat gentle of people outside the ring.The host questioned him on how that could be? He said most had suffered in their early life, in one way or another, and by bocing, were telling the world, "Don't touch me in an aggressive way."

[Me.]

3. Of Course I Agree

and with your reasoning too

[True Dough]

4. Entertaining and compelling stories,

as usual, H2O Man.

I'm assuming that the two veterans that Morrison beat past their primes are Razor Ruddock and George Foreman? Or maybe you mean Carl "The Truth" Williams?

Because the rather ironic thing about Foreman, of course, is that he became the HW champ in his very next fight against Michael Moorer.

[H2O Man]

5. Before he fought Ray,

Tommy's two big name wins were over James Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Both were serious fighters in their primes, and Pinklon had held one of the division's titles, before losing it to Tyson.

His wins over Williams and Foreman came a couple years after the loss to Mercer, so they weren't factors in my thinking when Morrison was facing Ray. And Tommy did have a few other good wins in the years after Ray devastated him. He was good, but there are levels to the sport. He wasn't on Ray's level.

[True Dough]

6. Ah, right. That makes sense

Mercer gave Lennox Lewis a heck of a fight too! It came down to the judges.

[H2O Man]

8. I thought Ray

won that fight. I've watched it several times, and still think he won. And I really like Lewis. (In my lone interaction with him shortly after he retired, I thanked Lennox for bringing class to the sport. Nothing but great respect.)

[Tomconroy]

7. I enjoy watching the old fight videos but can't watch a live fight now.

Just too brutal.

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

At least the amateurs -- now USA Boxing, rather than AAU -- are a bit less brutal than they used to be. Some commissioners are solid, others not so much. Most promoters are as crooked as ever ...... as they have been forever. I've only ever met one honest promoter at any level, and I've had my guys fight on his cards ever since.

When I was 15, my brothers and I were headed home after competing on an amateur fight card. A friend of our's died that night when a fight went on too long. I remember thining, "Poor Frank! That sucks!" But not connecting that both my oldest brother and I had fought in that exact same ring on that card a couple hours earlier. A couple years ago, my brother, who also fought pro, died from complications from taking too many punches to the head. He won almost all of his fights, but was a prime example of a short Irishman who would take five punches to land one.

[Auggie]

10. Great post. I just love the way you write too ...

boxing, current events, opinion, etc. So professional (IMHO).

[H2O Man]

11. Thank you!

As someone who fought 329 voxing matches, I'm happy that I can still write my own name! Ha!

[StevieM]

12. Can you explain something to me?

Why is Anthony Joshua taking this fight against Dillian Whyte if losing it could mess up his huge payday against Deontay Wilder in December? And why would he turn down the chance to fight Tyson Fury in September?

[H2O Man]

13. Great questions.

I wish I had good answers, but we'll have to settle for what I think. (grin) I don't see the advantage of fighting Whyte now. Though AJ can, and should, win, it's not what I'd pick for him as a tune-up. Whyte can fight, and has the ability to score not just the upset, but to inflict both mental and physical damage in doing so. In my opinion, even if AJ wins, there is a risk of damage.

Now, I think AJ is a very good boxer-puncher. I had supported Tim Witherspoon's attempts to train him after both of AJ's first two loses. It has less to do with phyical conditioning than mental preparation. I know Tim well enough to know he could do that better than the others around AJ. And that's no knock on them. It's a matter of Tim being better for the job, at least in my opinion. And I base that on a number of conversations with Tim about this -- the man has the persoal ring experience, as well as dealing with promoters and fans who love you when you are winning, but not as much after a loss.

I am sure Tim would have advised AJ to fight a less dangerous opponent, not in the top ten. Possibly followed by a top ten guy, then roll the dice with Wilder. Again, just my opinion, but if AJ beats Whyte, then fights Wilder, he will get counted out in about four rounds. With two fights to build him up, the odds would be even.

Sorry to babble on so long! Ask me great questions about boxing, and I can't shut up!