Question?

TysonFan82 · 12-01-2004, 02:03 AM

As I was reading the forums I saw mention of Ray Mercer and it got me thinking. I remembered that a long time ago I had hear about him offering a bribe or something. Whatever became of that? I dont remember hearing much about what happend. I remember seeing something on current edition back in the day but I cant remember a thing about it. If anyone can help refresh my memory let me know. And then, once you do that, I'd like to hear how everyone believes that effects his legacy as a fighter and how prevalent everyone things fixing fights is today. Let me know!

jas80s · 12-01-2004, 05:32 AM

I think it was in his fight with Jesse Ferguson. I don't know whatever happened with it, but in a sport ruled by Don King, simply offering a bribe probably isn't the worst transgression, relatively speaking.

Mercer never really was able to get himself back into the title picture, but that probably had a lot to do with his lack of attractiveness as a potential opponent.........Great chin, good power, and pretty good skills overall......he could be a handful if he was right on a given night. Once he fell out of the picture he probably represented too much risk and not enough reward for most young, up and coming, heavyweights. Of course, that was always my take, I mean eventually he went to Germany to fight Wlad, and this was back when Wlad looked like the best young heavyweight out there. To me, that sounds like the move of a guy who was having a hard time finding a good opponent. Too bad really, I always enjoyed watching him fight.

I really don't think there is that much fixing of fights these days. If there were any it would have to be fixing of judges. I just can't see someone taking a dive with so many people watching on TV. I do recall hearing a story about a fix in a Jorge Paez fight a couple of years back. It put me in mind of an old rule of thumb from the world of radio. They say that if one person actually calls up and complains about something on the radio you could assume that 1000 people felt the same way. Does that mean that there are 1000 fixes for every report? Probably not, but if there is a story out there, it is probably happening somewhere. But, I still don't think it happens on the major fights, there is just too much exposure now. My humble, possibly hopelessly naive, opinion of course.

Odrog · 12-05-2004, 05:09 PM

I remember this. a few years back, what was supposed to be a tuneup fight for Mercer turns into more than he baragained for, and Mercer allegedly offers the guy, verbally, during the fight, 50 grand to go down. I forget who the opponent was or the outcome of the fight, but Mercer described the "bribe attempt" as a joke afterwards... a pretty stupid joke in my opinion, like making bomb jokes in an airport, but there was no evidence of any actual plan to fix the fight, and if any thing was done about it, it was a slap-on-the-wrist type of deal. Just stuck in my mind because of the absurd humor of someone trying to fix a fight in the middle of fighting! I mean, that's hilarious

For What It's Worth
The Fat Man

GForce · 12-06-2004, 06:26 PM

Mercer offered the bribe to Ferguson in the middle of their first fight.

Supposedly, Mercer retired earlier this year to fight in K-1, but was beaten by a journeyman there and that was the end of that.

GH

Ian Lord · 12-14-2004, 01:52 PM

I don't think fight fixing needs to go nowadays, as all promoters have to do is bung someone on the rankings committee of one of the various boxing organisations a few quid to get there guy highly ranked, and thus cutting out the middle man.

12-01-2004, 02:03 AM	#1
TysonFan82 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East Coast Posts: 95	Question? As I was reading the forums I saw mention of Ray Mercer and it got me thinking. I remembered that a long time ago I had hear about him offering a bribe or something. Whatever became of that? I dont remember hearing much about what happend. I remember seeing something on current edition back in the day but I cant remember a thing about it. If anyone can help refresh my memory let me know. And then, once you do that, I'd like to hear how everyone believes that effects his legacy as a fighter and how prevalent everyone things fixing fights is today. Let me know! __________________ MT

12-01-2004, 05:32 AM	#2
jas80s Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 249	I think it was in his fight with Jesse Ferguson. I don't know whatever happened with it, but in a sport ruled by Don King, simply offering a bribe probably isn't the worst transgression, relatively speaking. Mercer never really was able to get himself back into the title picture, but that probably had a lot to do with his lack of attractiveness as a potential opponent.........Great chin, good power, and pretty good skills overall......he could be a handful if he was right on a given night. Once he fell out of the picture he probably represented too much risk and not enough reward for most young, up and coming, heavyweights. Of course, that was always my take, I mean eventually he went to Germany to fight Wlad, and this was back when Wlad looked like the best young heavyweight out there. To me, that sounds like the move of a guy who was having a hard time finding a good opponent. Too bad really, I always enjoyed watching him fight. I really don't think there is that much fixing of fights these days. If there were any it would have to be fixing of judges. I just can't see someone taking a dive with so many people watching on TV. I do recall hearing a story about a fix in a Jorge Paez fight a couple of years back. It put me in mind of an old rule of thumb from the world of radio. They say that if one person actually calls up and complains about something on the radio you could assume that 1000 people felt the same way. Does that mean that there are 1000 fixes for every report? Probably not, but if there is a story out there, it is probably happening somewhere. But, I still don't think it happens on the major fights, there is just too much exposure now. My humble, possibly hopelessly naive, opinion of course.

12-05-2004, 05:09 PM	#3
Odrog Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 20	I remember this. a few years back, what was supposed to be a tuneup fight for Mercer turns into more than he baragained for, and Mercer allegedly offers the guy, verbally, during the fight, 50 grand to go down. I forget who the opponent was or the outcome of the fight, but Mercer described the "bribe attempt" as a joke afterwards... a pretty stupid joke in my opinion, like making bomb jokes in an airport, but there was no evidence of any actual plan to fix the fight, and if any thing was done about it, it was a slap-on-the-wrist type of deal. Just stuck in my mind because of the absurd humor of someone trying to fix a fight in the middle of fighting! I mean, that's hilarious For What It's Worth The Fat Man

12-06-2004, 06:26 PM	#4
GForce Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,458 Infractions: 0/2 (2)	Mercer offered the bribe to Ferguson in the middle of their first fight. Supposedly, Mercer retired earlier this year to fight in K-1, but was beaten by a journeyman there and that was the end of that. GH

12-14-2004, 01:52 PM	#5
Ian Lord All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Coventry, England. Posts: 1,814	I don't think fight fixing needs to go nowadays, as all promoters have to do is bung someone on the rankings committee of one of the various boxing organisations a few quid to get there guy highly ranked, and thus cutting out the middle man.