Raymond Anthony Mercer (born April 4, 1961) is an American former professional boxer, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist. In boxing he competed from 1989 to 2008, and held the WBO heavyweight title from 1991 to 1992. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1988 Summer Olympics. In mixed martial arts, Mercer is known for scoring an upset one-punch knockout victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in 2009.

Amateur boxing career

Mercer started boxing at the age of 23 while serving in the U.S. Army^[1] and compiled an amateur record of 64-6. He won Gold in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as a heavyweight.

Olympic results

• 1st round bye
• Defeated Rudolf Gavenčiak (Czechoslovakia) RSC 3
• Defeated Luigi Gaudiano (Italy) KO 1
• Defeated Arnold Vanderlyde (Netherlands) RSC 2
• Defeated Baik Hyun-Man (South Korea) KO 1

Professional boxing career

Mercer turned pro in 1989 with a 3rd TKO of Jesse Hughes. He scored a series of knockouts and in August 1990 knocked down and outpointed big punching Smokin' Bert Cooper in a spectacular 12 round brawl that earned him Cooper's NABF title. In January 1991 he challenged undefeated Francesco Damiani for the WBO heavyweight title, scoring a one punch knockout victory in the 9th when behind on points. Later that year he beat undefeated puncher Tommy Morrison in five, and with a major world title fight on the horizon vacated his WBO belt and fought 42-year-old legend Larry Holmes rather than mandatory challenger Michael Moorer. It proved an unwise decision, as the crafty Holmes conned Mercer out of the fight, outjabbing the puzzled Mercer and gaining both the points decision, and Mercer's world title fight with heavyweight king Evander Holyfield.

Having split fights with dangerous veteran Jesse Ferguson (Mercer was investigated for allegedly asking Ferguson to "throw the fight" during their first encounter), labored when overweight to a draw with trialhorse Marion Wilson, and saw a proposed 1994 bout in Hong Kong with Frank Bruno fall through, Mercer enjoyed an unexpected run of form in major fights, losing on points in a thrilling brawl with Holyfield in May 1995, losing a controversial decision in another wild punch up, this time with Lennox Lewis, in June 1996, and scoring a controversial points win over ex-champ Tim Witherspoon in yet another high action bout in December 1996. In the frame for a bout with Andrew Golota in 1997, Mercer suffered a neck injury and was out of action for 14 months. He returned February 1998 with a 2-round KO of Leo Loiacono, but contracted Hepatitis B and was again inactive, this time for 20 months.

Comeback

In February 2001 a 39-year-old Mercer launched a final comeback, knocking out four journeymen before being matched with WBO title holder Wladimir Klitschko in a high-profile bout on HBO. Once famed for his incredible iron chin, Mercer looked his age and was knocked down in the first and stopped in the 6th. A brief dalliance in the mixed martial arts nixed a 2004 bout with DaVarryl Williamson, however he did return to boxing in 2005, now aged 44, but was stopped in seven by Shannon Briggs.

Kickboxing career

Continuing to seek a fighting career, Mercer opted to travel to Japan and challenged Musashi in the kickboxing combat sport K-1 on June 6, 2004. Mercer held a reasonable account of himself, but his age and inability to successfully defend kicks was evident as he went on to lose the bout via unanimous decision. On March 19, 2005, he had one more K-1 bout against Remy Bonjasky, to whom he lost via verbal submission. The first and only strike of the night, a head kick, landed square on the head of Mercer. It wasn't your typical fight; Mercer took the head kick and then quit the fight.. As Mercer put it, "I got the shit kicked out of me". [1]

Mixed martial arts career

After a series of scheduled boxing matchups fell through (including a proposed bout against former champion Hasim Rahman), Mercer decided to try mixed martial arts (MMA) and approached Felix Martinez, co-founder of Cage Fury Fighting Championships, about working with the promotion. On March 21, 2007, Cage Fury announced that Mercer had signed to face underground street fighter and Internet legend Kimbo Slice at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on June 23, 2007, as part of Cage Fury Fighting Championship 5. The bout was a non-sanctioned exhibition under the New Jersey Unified MMA rules.^[2]

Kimbo Slice won the fight in the first round with a guillotine choke submission.

Mercer later stated in the press conference at Adrenaline III: Bragging Rights when he was scheduled to fight Tim Sylvia under MMA rules instead of Boxing rules that he had expected Kimbo Slice to box with him and said that he did not really train in any other aspect of MMA and was unprepared for the guillotine choke.

On June 13, 2009, Mercer made a big splash when he defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at Adrenaline III: Bragging Rights. He won the fight via knockout in 9 seconds with a huge right hand to the chin, becoming the first man to ever defeat Sylvia by knockout.

In March 2010, it was announced that Mercer had signed with the King of the Cage organization.^[3]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
44 fights	36 wins	7 losses
By knockout	26	2
By decision	10	5
Draws	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
44	Win	36–7–1	Richel Hersisia	MD	6	Sep 5, 2008	Nöjesfabriken, Karlstad, Sweden
43	Loss	35–7–1	Derric Rossy	UD	12	Jan 26, 2008	Venetian Arena, Macau, SAR	For vacant WBC–ABCO, WBF International, and WBO–NABO interim heavyweight titles
42	Win	35–6–1	Mikael Lindblad	KO	1, 1:50	Sep 15, 2007	Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad, Sweden
41	Loss	34–6–1	Shannon Briggs	KO	7 (10), 0:41	Aug 26, 2005	Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
40	Win	34–5–1	Darroll Wilson	UD	10	Jun 24, 2005	Nikki Beach Concert Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
39	Win	33–5–1	Steve Pannell	TKO	3 (10), 0:50	Feb 28, 2004	Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
38	Win	32–5–1	Shawn Robinson	TKO	3 (10), 1:49	Nov 11, 2003	Caesars, Elizabeth, Indiana, U.S.
37	Win	31–5–1	Mario Cawley	KO	3 (10), 1:08	Aug 23, 2003	Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
36	Loss	30–5–1	Wladimir Klitschko	TKO	6 (12), 1:08	Jun 29, 2002	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	For WBO heavyweight title
35	Win	30–4–1	Troy Weida	TKO	1 (10), 0:28	Feb 23, 2002	Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34	Win	29–4–1	Brian Scott	KO	2 (10), 0:57	Oct 13, 2001	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
33	Win	28–4–1	Don Steele	KO	5 (10), 3:00	Mar 17, 2001	Silver Star Hotel & Casino, Choctaw, Mississippi, U.S.
32	Win	27–4–1	Jeff Pegues	TKO	2 (10), 2:59	Feb 11, 2001	Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
31	Win	26–4–1	Jimmy Haynes	KO	1 (10), 0:43	Dec 18, 1999	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
30	Win	25–4–1	Leo Loiacono	KO	2 (10), 0:46	Feb 21, 1998	Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
29	Win	24–4–1	Tim Witherspoon	UD	10	Dec 14, 1996	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
28	Loss	23–4–1	Lennox Lewis	MD	10	May 10, 1996	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27	Loss	23–3–1	Evander Holyfield	UD	10	May 20, 1995	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26	Draw	23–2–1	Marion Wilson	SD	10	Jul 28, 1994	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25	Win	23–2	Jesse Ferguson	SD	10	Nov 19, 1993	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
24	Win	22–2	Mark Wills	UD	10	Oct 6, 1993	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23	Win	21–2	Tony Willis	TKO	1 (10), 2:11	Aug 12, 1993	Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
22	Loss	20–2	Jesse Ferguson	UD	10	Feb 6, 1993	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
21	Win	20–1	Jerry Halstead	RTD	3 (12), 0:01	Dec 10, 1992	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
20	Win	19–1	Mike Dixon	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	Oct 7, 1992	County Center, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
19	Loss	18–1	Larry Holmes	UD	12	Feb 7, 1992	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Tommy Morrison	TKO	5 (12), 0:28	Oct 18, 1991	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Retained WBO heavyweight title
17	Win	17–0	Francesco Damiani	KO	9 (12), 2:47	Jan 11, 1991	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Won WBO heavyweight title
16	Win	16–0	Bert Cooper	UD	12	Aug 5, 1990	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Won NABF heavyweight title
15	Win	15–0	Lionel Washington	TKO	4 (10), 1:59	May 31, 1990	Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Kimmuel Odum	UD	12	Mar 2, 1990	Hacienda, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
13	Win	13–0	Wesley Watson	TKO	5 (10), 0:44	Jan 15, 1990	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Ossie Ocasio	SD	8	Dec 7, 1989	The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Jerry Jones	UD	8	Nov 14, 1989	South Mountain Arena, West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Eddie Richardson	TKO	1 (8), 2:16	Oct 17, 1989	State Fairgrounds, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Arthel Lawhorne	TKO	2 (10), 1:05	Sep 19, 1989	Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Dino Homsey	TKO	1 (8), 1:58	Sep 5, 1989	Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Tracy Thomas	KO	1 (6), 2:09	Aug 15, 1989	South Mountain Arena, West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Al Evans	TKO	1 (6), 2:55	Jul 15, 1989	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Ken Crosby	KO	1 (6), 2:45	Jun 12, 1989	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	David Hopkins	KO	1 (4), 1:07	May 16, 1989	Tyndall Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Garing Lane	UD	4	Mar 28, 1989	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Luis Walford	KO	1	Mar 4, 1989	Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Jesse McGhee	TKO	3 (4), 0:30	Feb 24, 1989	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.

Kickboxing record

0 Wins (0 (T) KO's, 0 decision), 2 Losses

Date	Result	Record	Opponent	Event	Method	Round	Time	Location
March 15, 2005	Loss	0–2	Remy Bonjasky	K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Seoul	TKO (Right High Kick)	1	0:22	Seoul, South Korea
June 6, 2004	Loss	0–1	Musashi	K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Nagoya	Decision (Unanimous)	3	3:00	Nagoya, Japan

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
1 match	1 win	0 losses
By knockout	1	0
By submission	0	0
By decision	0	0

Professional record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	1–0	Tim Sylvia	KO (punch)	Adrenaline MMA 3: Bragging Rights	000000002009-06-13-0000June 13, 2009	1	0:09	Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Exhibition record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	0–1	Kimbo Slice	Submission (guillotine choke)	Cage Fury Fighting Championship 5	000000002007-06-23-0000June 23, 2007	1	1:12	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Ray Mercer from BoxRec
• Professional MMA record for Ray Mercer from Sherdog

Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous: Michael Bentt	U.S. heavyweight champion 1988	Next: Javier Alvarez
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by Bert Cooper	NABF heavyweight champion August 5, 1990 – January 1991 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Orlin Norris
World boxing titles
Preceded by Francesco Damiani	WBO heavyweight champion January 11, 1991 – February 1992 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Michael Moorer