Most boxing followers are aware of the traditional chestnut, “Because the heavyweights go, so goes boxing,” and it could be tough to argue that the outdated noticed bears some fact. The straightforward reality is that when there’s a gifted and charismatic heavyweight champion at work, the game tends to thrive, because it did when Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali have been the kings of the massive males.
However in 1991 the heavyweight class was in a state of flux, with a weak champion on the high and a combined bag of contenders, prospects and ex-champions all vying for his or her likelihood to say the crown. Till lately, Mike Tyson had been essentially the most superior heavyweight round, with knockouts over Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs and Larry Holmes. His 91 second demolition of Michael Spinks was one of many greatest fights of current boxing historical past and the younger, undisputed champion appeared poised for super-stardom.
However in 1990, Tyson discovered himself on the dangerous finish of essentially the most surprising upset in sports activities historical past when he was stopped by unheralded James “Buster” Douglas, who in flip fell to former cruiserweight champ Evander Holyfield. Preparations have been in full swing for a Tyson vs Holyfield showdown when “Iron Mike” was charged with rape and despatched to jail. Holyfield defended his title belts in opposition to George Foreman, Bert Cooper and Larry Holmes, and whereas he gained all three fights, he struggled at occasions and not one of the victories served to ascertain him as a very dominant determine.
Enter the World Boxing Group. For causes nobody might adequately clarify, the fledgling world sanctioning physique, boxing’s fourth, had determined to invent itself and crown its personal kings. It was the very last thing boxing wanted and the brand new alphabet group did nothing to assist itself acquire legitimacy when it declared Francisco Damiani of Italy their inaugural heavyweight champion. In January of 1991 Damiani defended his doubtful title in opposition to former Olympic gold medalist Ray “Cruel” Mercer, who toppled the Italian in spherical 9 with a single left hook to the nostril.
Few, if any, regarded Mercer, now 17-0, as a professional world champion, however the win and the belt did solidify his credentials as one of many high aspirants for the actual crown held by Holyfield, and it put him on par with one other undefeated contender, Tommy Morrison. Nicknamed “The Duke” attributable to his declare of being a distant relative to famed Hollywood star John Wayne, Morrison was in actual fact rated increased than Mercer by most pundits. At 28-0 he had extra fights, no fewer than fifteen first spherical knockouts, plus high quality wins over veteran contenders James Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. He had additionally starred with Sylvester Stallone within the newest “Rocky” film and, if he saved successful, appeared on the verge of changing into a singular crossover star.
In any case, with or with out the WBO title on the road, Mercer vs Morrison was an intriguing match-up between two of the world’s greatest heavyweights. Sure, Razor Ruddock, Tim Witherspoon and Foreman all needed to be ranked increased than each males on the time, and Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe have been a minimum of as deserving, besides, these have been two of the division’s most formidable contenders. And their aggressive, hard-punching kinds promised a superb motion tilt, the match-up drawing a giant crowd to the Atlantic Metropolis Conference Heart.
And certainly, from the opening bell Mercer vs Morrison was an entertaining brawl, with Tommy beginning quick and letting his arms go, clearly successful the opening spherical as he beat Mercer to the punch on a number of events. Two minutes in and an image good uppercut-left hook mixture surprised “Cruel” and he was nailed once more by a tough proper cross and a left to the physique simply earlier than the bell. Spherical one to “The Duke.”
The second was extra of the identical as Morrison was the busier and stronger fighter. Mixing his punches nicely, he saved Mercer backing up and landed a sequence of heavy pictures at spherical’s finish, together with one other eye-catching uppercut and a heavy left hook to the jaw. Spherical three was much more emphatic; Mercer took a pounding within the first minute, which led to his backside lip being cut up open, and he was in nearly continuous retreat. The match appeared to be “The Duke’s” to lose.
However whereas Morrison had extra wins and knockouts than Mercer, he had by no means earlier than been previous spherical six and in a fast-paced slugfest with an opponent sturdy sufficient to resist his greatest pictures, Tommy’s stamina, or lack thereof, proved the deciding issue. Within the fourth “The Duke” began to tire and decelerate simply as Ray got here alive, and all of the sudden it was Morrison who was taking heavy blows and holding on as Mercer seized management. At spherical’s finish the Olympian raised his arms in a victory salute as he strode confidently again to his nook. With Morrison fading, it was clear that Mercer now had the higher hand, however that didn’t make the sudden conclusion any much less surprising.
Tommy got here ahead on the bell for spherical 5, however his legs have been weak and “Cruel” turned him with ease and trapped him in his personal nook earlier than blasting his quarry with a livid barrage. Some fifteen unanswered bombs detonated on “The Duke,” however a minimum of half a dozen linked after it was apparent Tommy was out on his ft. Veteran ref Tony Perez was sluggish to maneuver in and the end result was horrific, as a dazed Morrison, his muscular body all of the sudden gentle as cookie dough, his arms at his sides, absorbed flush punches at point-blank vary from a frenzied Mercer. A number of of the blows landed so exhausting that they prevented Tommy from falling, one pulverizing shot organising the subsequent, earlier than lastly, like a mafia hit man filling his sufferer stuffed with lead, Mercer landed the coup de gras, an insurance coverage left hook that slammed Morrison to the canvas with brutal emphasis.
Fortunately for all, Morrison was not critically damage, however this was an unforgettable knockout ending, one which has left an indelible impression, a vivid warning of what can occur when a referee hesitates for a cut up second. Violent conclusion apart, it had been an action-packed heavyweight rumble, however it could show to be lower than decisive for both fighter. The WBO demanded that Mercer subsequent defend his title in opposition to Michael Moorer, however he as an alternative vacated the title to simply accept the extra profitable supply of a match with former champion Larry Holmes. Mercer misplaced to Larry by determination after which needed to wait ten lengthy years earlier than he might strive once more for a championship. A clearly over-the-hill Mercer fell to Wladimir Klitschko in six rounds in 2002, however not earlier than he had defeated Witherspoon and given Lennox Lewis one among his hardest battles.
Morrison really rebounded impressively after this brutal knockout loss with eight straight stoppage wins earlier than dealing with George Foreman for, you guessed it, the vacant WBO title. To the shock of many, Tommy gave the very best efficiency of his profession in opposition to “Huge George,” transcending his stamina points to out-box his veteran opponent and win a twelve spherical determination. It was the excessive level of an erratic, up-and-down profession, earlier than crushing losses to Michael Bentt and Lennox Lewis, after which the unhappy decline and untimely dying of the fighter that they had referred to as “The Duke.” — Robert Portis
