BY THE NUMBERS: RAY MERCER By Don Stradley • Illustration by KronkAAArt “Merciless” Ray Mercer was an accomplished U.S. Army boxer and winner of a gold medal in the 201-pound division at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Known for his aggressive style and heavy punches, he was a top heavyweight of the 1990s. Born in 1961 and splitting his childhood between military bases in Georgia and West Germany, Mercer went on to forge a career full of incredible highs and embarrassing lows. Here is his story by the numbers. faces of the time – Bert Cooper, Ossie Ocasio and Francesco Damiani (for the newly created and lightly regarded WBO heavyweight title) – but it was his stunning knockout victory over Tommy Morrison in October 1991 that established him as a star. The Atlantic City bout pitted Mercer against boxing’s latest “It” boy, Morrison, a charismatic knockout puncher from the Midwest who was undefeated in 28 bouts and was managed by Bill Cayton, a former adviser of Mike Tyson. Mercer had beaten Morrison in the amateurs, but now, before a near sell-out of more than 8,000 people at the Convention Center and a home audience watching on the TVKO pay-per-view network, he overcame a poor start and scored an explosive KO at 0:28 of the fifth. The finish would become prominent in any highlight reel of memorable punchouts, with Morrison dazed on the ropes, unable to defend himself, and Mercer wailing away with more than a dozen consecutive blows. Most of them were of the bone-crunching variety and right on target. Referee Tony Perez received heavy criticism for allowing Morrison to take so many punches, but boxing fans seemed thrilled that a bright new power-puncher had arrived. Indeed, the old guard of Leonard, Hagler and Duran were considered off the market, while Tyson’s reputation had diminished with his loss to Buster Douglas and some goofy out-of-the-ring behavior. With The Press of Atlantic City branding his performance “an impressive and crucial triumph,” it appeared the brawny Mercer was the next big thing. But as his star ascended, fate would bring him back down to Earth in his next fight. rounds to dismantle Tommy Morrison » Mercer had already defeated some familiar
point away from a draw with Lennox Lewis » Mercer redeemed himself again in his hard- fought loss to Lennox Lewis in 1996, a grueling contest that Lewis called “the toughest” of his
career. The scores were hairpin close: 95-95, 96-95 and 96-94, giving Lewis the victory by majority decision. Had the middle judge been in a different seat or in a different mood, Mercer might’ve gone home with a majority draw. Many of the rounds had been dead close, and both fighters looked thoroughly whipped at the conclusion. Mercer had done well enough that many of the 17,041 in Madison Square Garden booed the verdict, an argument supported by Lewis’ battered face. Some in the press agreed with Mercer’s fans, while others thought a draw would’ve been reasonable. Even so, in losing a close one, Mercer had raised his image a bit. Not that it helped him. He was already 35 years old and on the downhill side of things. Still, it was Mercer who left the Garden buzzing. Jerry Izenberg, writing for Newark’s Star- Ledger, praised Mercer: “He was the ultimate warrior in a night made for warriors in this town where boxing is supposed to be dead.” seconds to whoop an MMA guy » Mercer had his final boxing match in 2008 and retired with a record of 36-7-1 with 26 knockouts. His later years saw him drifting between the worlds of boxing, kickboxing and MMA, with varied results. In boxing, though he scored some late-career wins, there were knockout losses to Wladimir Klitschko and Shannon Briggs, proof that the always durable Mercer could no longer compete at the top level. In his MMA ventures, Mercer lacked experience to compete seriously. He even lost by submission to internet phenom Kimbo Slice in 2007. However, Mercer’s final appearance in a combat sports event ended on a positive note. On June 13, 2009, he faced Tim Sylvia, a noted MMA competitor and two-time UFC champion. The contest had been scheduled as a six-round boxing event but was changed to MMA and then, at the last moment, back to boxing. When Sylvia started Round 1 with a kick to Mercer’s leg, it appeared the combatants still weren’t clear on the rules. Mercer threw a single right cross to knock his rival out in nine seconds. Mercer had another MMA fight scheduled in 2010 but pulled out because of injuries. Fittingly, the final time Mercer was in action ended with his hand raised in victory and his opponent on the canvas. Sylvia had learned what some of the best heavyweight boxers of an era had learned, that Mercer was not to be overlooked. His career was uneven, but at his best, Mercer was a dangerous man.
scandal in New York » Losing to Holmes was bad enough, but Mercer’s stock continued to fall in 1993 when he dropped a 10-rounder to journeyman Jesse Ferguson at Madison Square Garden. Mercer, who had looked sluggish and incompetent against a fighter who had once been his sparring partner,
claimed he had looked beyond Ferguson in favor of bigger paydays to come and that a shoulder injury had kept him from training properly. Compounding the decision loss was the allegation that Mercer had bribed Ferguson during the fight, offering him $100,000 to lose. After an inquiry by the New York State Athletic Commission, Mercer was charged with “sports bribery,” a Class D felony that carried a penalty of up to seven years in prison. In 1994, however, a Manhattan jury agreed with Mercer’s defense that any words said during the fight were nothing but gamesmanship. Mercer was acquitted. The stain of the accusation, however, was not so easily removed.
rounds in a Larry Holmes master class » Forty-two-year-old Larry Holmes, using every ounce of cunning and trickery at his
rounds with Evander Holyfield » Mercer’s road to redemption began in Atlantic City with a losing effort against Holyfield, himself an old lion on the comeback trail. It was a punishing, bloody, back-and-forth contest where Mercer, according
disposal, humiliated Mercer over 12 rounds in Atlantic City. Holmes’ advantages in height and reach gave Mercer headaches, as Holmes repeatedly stuck his left hand out like a rusty guardrail, over which Mercer couldn’t jump. The reach advantage also allowed Holmes to land 336 of 491 punches for an insane 68.4% connect rate and left Mercer struggling to land 247 of 657 for 37.6%. The judges scored the bout unanimously for Holmes: 117-112, 117-111 and 115-113. Mercer complained about Holmes using his left in such a manner, saying fighters shouldn’t be allowed to “stiff arm” an opponent, but added there was little he could do about it. “I give credit to that defense,” Mercer said. Ironically, Mercer had relinquished his new WBO belt for a chance to fight Holmes – the winner was to get a shot at Evander Holyfield, recognized as the legitimate champion – but now, thanks to Holmes, Mercer was minus a belt, minus an undefeated record and minus much of the luster he’d gained in the past few years.
to the New York Daily News, “fought the fight of his life” but faded in the late rounds. According to Mercer’s camp, a rib injury in the seventh hampered him the rest of the way, which resulted in Holyfield taking the fight by scores of 96-93, 97-92 and 95-94. Still, Mercer showed an impressive will to win. “He’s a soldier,” said Holyfield, “and soldiers don’t back away.”
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