Quote Originally Posted by ICB View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Spicoli View Post
I can't give Lewis flack for the Mercer fight.I think he was making a statement as co feature to Holyfield.He sat in with a fit and ready Mercer who was on a nice run,had just jabbed the heck outta Holyfield in a good display of boxing turned shoot out.Maybe not smart for Lewis but that was a turning point for me as far as respecting him.Mercer has always had a short blunt jab...irony was he fancied himself a one man wrecking crew leading up to fight with ancient Holmes as he had just battered Morrison and came back from the brink of defeat with one punch KO over Damiani.He took it all for granted.Of all things it was Mercer outjabbing Holmes at least in round 1,had Holmes on rubber legs with a jab.
Ray Mercer never outjabbed Larry Holmes, he caught Larry Holmes. With a sharp jab coming in, that caught Larry Holmes by suprise and had him off balance. Other than that Ray Mercer was given a boxing, when Larry Holmes was 42. Where as a prime Lennox Lewis just about beat Ray Mercer by the skin of his teeth.
He didn't look off balance to me,he was stunned bad by a jab and then Holmes went right hand happy.Clear round for Mercer to me.He baited and set traps in the corner all night for somewhat sloppy Mercer as it went.Damiani also gave him a boxing lesson,Odum also found him easy with jabs and craftiness.Long gap between those fights and does not all translate 1+1 =2.Styles.Just about beating does not translate to actually achieving it as far as Lewis.Like I said I think Lewis made matters worse for himself by meeting Ray frontal and not fighting a complete smart fight.