Ray Mercer

Ray Mercer is a former American professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2008 before trying his hands at kickboxing and mixed martial arts in the mid-2000s. Born on April 4, 1961, in Jacksonville, Florida, Mercer won a gold medal in the heavyweight category at the 1988 Summer Olympics and later held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title from 1991 to 1992.

Mercer began his professional boxing career at the age of 27 on February 24, 1989, defeating Jesse McGhee via third-round technical knockout (TKO). He then embarked on a 17-fight win streak that included 12 stoppages before earning his first world title shot against Francesco Damiani on January 11, 1991. In the highly anticipated bout, Mercer knocked out Damiani in the ninth round to become the new WBO heavyweight champion.

He then defended his title for the first time against Tommy Morrison on October 18, 1991. Mercer won the contest via a fifth-round TKO, cementing his place as one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world. However, his reign as the WBO champion was short-lived, as he lost his title in his very next bout against former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes on February 7, 1992.

Throughout his career, Mercer had a total of 44 fights, winning 36, losing 7, drawing 1, and having no no-contests. Of his 36 victories, 26 were knockout wins, while he suffered 2 losses via knockout. He won one world title at heavyweight and had one title defense to his name.

Some of his most notable victories include triumphs over Tommy Morrison, Jerry Halstead, Jimmy Haynes, Leo Loiacono, Troy Weida, Brian Scott, and Jeff Pegues. Mercer retired from professional boxing with a record of 36-7-1.

Early Life and Career

Ray Mercer was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where he began boxing at a young age. He enlisted in the United States Army after finishing high school and served from 1979 to 1988 before turning professional. While in the army, Mercer was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he trained under Army boxing coaches.

After leaving the army, Mercer began his professional boxing career after being signed by influential boxing promoter Don King in 1989. Mercer made his professional debut against Jesse McGhee on February 24 of the same year. The fight took place at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Mercer won via a third-round TKO.

After his debut victory, Mercer went on a sensational 17-fight win streak that included 12 victories via stoppage. His wins over Jerry Halstead, Jimmy Haynes, Leo Loiacono, and Troy Weida established him as one of the best heavyweight contenders in the world, and he was soon rewarded with his first world title shot.

World Title Wins and Record

Ray Mercer won his first world title on January 11, 1991, when he defeated Francesco Damiani for the WBO heavyweight belt. The fight, which took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was dominated by Mercer, who knocked out Damiani in the ninth round. After the fight, Mercer became the new WBO heavyweight champion, and hopes were high for what he could achieve in his career.

Mercer's first title defence was against Tommy Morrison on October 18, 1991, and he won the fight via a fifth-round TKO. This was a high point in Mercer's career, as his win over the highly rated Morrison cemented his place as one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world.

However, Mercer's reign as the WBO champion was short-lived, as he lost his title in his very next bout against veteran boxer Larry Holmes via 12 round unanimous decision on February 7, 1992. Mercer's boxing career continued for another 16 years, but he would never again reach the same heights as he did during his WBO reign.

Although Mercer only won one world title during his career, he was still an accomplished fighter who won 36 of his 44 fights. Of his 36 victories, 26 were knockout wins, and he suffered only two losses via knockout.

Notable Fights

In addition to his world title wins and defenses, Ray Mercer was involved in several notable fights throughout his career. Some of Mercer's most famous fights include:

vs Tommy Morrison

Ray Mercer's victory over Tommy Morrison on October 18, 1991 is considered one of the greatest wins in his career. Morrison was a highly rated contender at the time, with a string of impressive victories to his name. However, Mercer dominated the fight from start to finish, ultimately winning via a fifth-round TKO. The win established Mercer as one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world and set him up for a long and illustrious career.

vs Evander Holyfield

Although he lost the fight, Ray Mercer's 10-round unanimous decision loss to Evander Holyfield on May 20, 1995, is still considered one of his best performances. Going into the contest, Mercer was the underdog, but he gave Holyfield everything he could handle with his powerful and accurate punches. While many fans and experts believed Mercer deserved to win the fight, the judges ultimately awarded Holyfield a unanimous decision victory.

vs Wladimir Klitschko

Ray Mercer's fight against future unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on June 29, 2002, was another notable bout in his career. Klitschko was widely regarded as one of the best heavyweight boxers at the time, but Mercer gave him a tough fight, ultimately losing via a sixth-round stoppage. Despite the loss, Mercer proved that he still had plenty to offer at the highest level of boxing, and he continued fighting for another six years after the bout.

Retirement and Life After Boxing

Ray Mercer retired from professional boxing on September 5, 2008, after defeating Richel Hersisia via a six-round majority decision in a non-title bout. At the time of his retirement, Mercer had a professional record of 36-7-1, with 26 of his wins coming via knockout.

After retiring from boxing, Mercer briefly tried his hand at kickboxing and mixed martial arts. He fought twice as a kickboxer, losing both matches via knockout in 2004 and 2005. In 2009, Mercer made his mixed martial arts debut against former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. Despite being a massive underdog, Mercer shocked the MMA world by knocking out Sylvia in the first round of the fight. The win was Mercer's only victory in the sport, and he retired from combat sports shortly afterward.

Today, Ray Mercer lives a quiet life away from the spotlight. However, he remains a revered figure in the boxing community and is considered one of the best heavyweight boxers of his generation.

Conclusion

Ray Mercer will always be remembered as one of America's most accomplished heavyweight boxers. With a professional record of 36-7-1, including 26 knockout wins, he was a force to be reckoned with during his time in the ring. Although he only held one world title during his career, his victories over Tommy Morrison, Jerry Halstead, Jimmy Haynes, Leo Loiacono, Troy Weida, Brian Scott, and Jeff Pegues, as well as his Olympic gold medal, have secured his legacy as one of the best heavyweight boxers of his generation.

Mercer's accomplishments in the ring have earned him the respect and admiration of boxing fans and experts around the world. Today, he is considered a true legend of the sport, and his name will always be mentioned when discussing the greatest heavyweight boxers in history.

Ray Mercer Fight Record