"Merciless" Ray Mercer (born April 4, 1961 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American professional boxer and former WBO World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist who resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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Boxing career

Amateur

Mercer was the 1988 United States Amateur Champion at Heavyweight while in the US Army and compiled an Amateur record of 64-6. He won Gold in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as a heavyweight. In 1989, Mercer fought Barry Flowers (USAF) which contributed to a K.O. win in the 7th round.

Olympic results

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

Professional

Mercer's professional career started in 1989, with a TKO of Jesse Hughes. Mercer moved up the ranks quickly and became the WBO World Heavyweight Champion in 1991 after knocking out the previously unbeaten Francesco Damiani in Atlantic City. Later that same year, Mercer has his most infamous fight with his brutal knockout win over Tommy Morrison to retain the title.

He then suffered defeats to Larry Holmes (1992), Jesse Ferguson (1993), Evander Holyfield (1995) and Lennox Lewis (1996) before taking time out of boxing in 1997 due to problems with hepatitis B. His loss to Ferguson prevented him from challenging then-champion Riddick Bowe, and was marred by allegations that Mercer tried to bribe Ferguson to throw the fight. An investigation of the alleged bribe proved inconclusive, although Ferguson did maintain that Mercer offered him the bribe during the fight.

Resuming his boxing career in 1998, he strung together a number of early round knockouts over journeymen such as Leo Loiacono, Jeff Pegues, Don Steele and Bryan Scott before losing to WBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2002. Mercer also recorded a loss to Shannon Briggs on August 26, 2005 - Briggs went on to become the WBO World Heavyweight Champion the following year.

He is due to fight Mark Potter in Blackpool Friday May 22nd 2009 at the Syndicate Super club.

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. He was knocked down in the first round and went on to lose 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, would land on the square on the head of Mercer. It wasn't your typical fight, Mercer literally took one head kick and then quit in what was one of the most bizarre fights of all time as the kick didn't even seem to hurt him. As Mercer put it, "I got the shit kicked out of me".

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 sanctioned exhibition under the New Jersey Unified MMA rules. ^[1]

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 defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at Adrenaline III: Bragging Rights. He won the fight via knockout in 9 seconds, becoming the first man to ever defeat Sylvia by knockout. He then called out Eric Esch after the fight.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
1	1 {{#switch:	0
Draws	0

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location
Win	1-0	Tim Sylvia	KO (Punch)	Adrenaline MMA 3: Bragging Rights	{{dts/core	1	0:09	Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Mixed martial arts pro-exhibition match record

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location
Loss	0-1	Kimbo Slice	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	Cage Fury Fighting Championship 5	{{dts/core	1	1:12	Atlantic City, New Jersey

Professional boxing record

|- |align="center" colspan=8|36 Wins (26 knockouts, 10 decisions, 0 disqualification), 7 Losses , 1 Draws , 0 No Contests ^[2] |- |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res. |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location |align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |36-7 |align=left| Richel Hersisia |MD | 6 (6 6x2), 3:00 |2008-09-05 | align=left|Karlstad, Sweden |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |35-7 |align=left| Derric Rossy |UD | 12 (12), 3:00 |2008-01-26 | align=left|Macao S.A.R., China |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |35-6 |align=left| Mikael Lindblad |KO | 1 (N/A), 1:50 |2007-09-15 | align=left|Löfbergs Lila Arena, Karlstad, Sweden |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |34-6 |align=left| Shannon Briggs |KO | 7 (10), 0:41 |2005-08-26 | align=left|Hollywood, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |34-5 |align=left| Darroll Wilson |UD | 10 (10), 3:00 |2005-06-24 | align=left|Pleasantville, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |33-5 |align=left| Shawn Robinson |TKO | 3 (10), 0:50 |2004-02-08 | align=left|Coconut Creek, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |32-5 |align=left| Steve Pannell |TKO | 3 (10), 1:49 |2003-11-11 | align=left|Elizabeth, Indiana, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |31-5 |align=left| Mario Cawley |KO | 3 (10),1:08 |2003-08-23 | align=left|Coconut Creek, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |30-5 |align=left| Wladimir Klitschko |TKO | 6 (12),1:08 |2002-06-29 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |30-4 |align=left| Troy Weida |TKO | 1 (10),0:28 |2002-02-23 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |29-4 |align=left| Brian Scott |KO | 2 (10),0:57 |2001-10-13 | align=left|Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |28-4 |align=left| Don Steele |KO | 5 (10),N/A |2001-03-17 | align=left|Philadelphia, Mississippi, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |27-4 |align=left| Jeff Pegues |TKO | 2 (10),2:59 |2001-02-11 | align=left|Elgin, Illinois, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |26-4 |align=left| Jimmy Haynes |KO | 1 (10),0:43 |1999-12-18 | align=left|Tunica, Mississippi, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |25-4 |align=left| Leo Loiacono |KO | 2 (10),0:43 |1998-02-21 | align=left|Miami, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |24-4 |align=left| Tim Witherspoon |UD | 10 (10),3:00 |1996-12-14 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |23-4 |align=left| Lennox Lewis |MD | 10 (10),3:00 |1996-05-10 | align=left|New York, New York, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |23-3 |align=left| Evander Holyfield |UD | 10 (10),3:00 |1995-05-20 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |style="background: #dae2f1"|Draw | 23-2 |align=left| Marion Wilson |D | 10 (10),3:00 |1994-07-28 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |23-2 |align=left| Jesse Ferguson |SD | 10 (10),3:00 |1993-02-06 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |22-2 |align=left| Mark Wills |UD | 10 (10),3:00 |1993-10-06 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |21-2 |align=left| Tony Willis |KO | 1 (10),0:21 |1993-08-12 | align=left|Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |20-2 |align=left| Jesse Ferguson |UD | 10 (10),3:00 |1993-02-06 | align=left|New York, New York, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |20-1 |align=left| Jerry Halstead |TKO | 2 (10),3:00 |1992-12-10 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |19-1 |align=left| Mike Dixon |TKO | 7 (10),N/A |1992-10-07 | align=left|Augusta, Georgia, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss |18-1 |align=left| Larry Holmes |UD | 12 (12),3:00 |1992-02-07 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |18-0 |align=left| Tommy Morrison |TKO | 5 (12),0:28 |1991-10-18 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |17-0 |align=left| Francesco Damiani |KO | 9 (12),2:47 |1991-01-11 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |16-0 |align=left| Bert Cooper |UD | 12 (12),3:00 |1990-08-05 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |15-0 |align=left| Lionel Washington |TKO | 4 (10),N/A |1990-05-31 | align=left|Rochester, New York, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |14-0 |align=left| Kimmuel Odum |UD | 12 (12),N/A |1990-03-02 | align=left|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |13-0 |align=left| Wesley Watson |TKO | 5 (10),0:44 |1990-01-15 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |12-0 |align=left| Ossie Ocasio |SD | 8 (8),3:00 |1989-12-07 | align=left|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |11-0 |align=left| Jerry Jones |UD | 8 (8),3:00 |1989-11-14 | align=left|West Orange, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |10-0 |align=left| Eddie Richardson |TKO | 1 (8),2:16 |1989-10-17 | align=left|Phoenix, Arizona, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |9-0 |align=left| Arthel Lawhorne |TKO | 2 (10),1:05 |1989-09-19 | align=left|Jacksonville, Florida, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |8-0 |align=left| Dino Homsey |TKO | 1 (8),1:58 |1989-09-05 | align=left|Stateline, Nevada, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |7-0 |align=left| Tracy Thomas |KO | 1 (6),2:09 |1989-08-15 | align=left|West Orange, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |6-0 |align=left| Al Evans |KO | 1 (10),2:09 |1989-07-15 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |5-0 |align=left| Ken Crosby |KO | 1 (4),N/A |1989-06-12 | align=left|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |4-0 |align=left| David Hopkins |KO | 1 (4),1:07 |1989-05-16 | align=left|Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |3-0 |align=left| Garing Lane |UD | 4 (4),3:00 |1989-03-28 | align=left|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |2-0 |align=left| Luis Walford |KO | 1 (4),N/A |1989-03-04 | align=left|Bismarck, North Dakota, United States |align=left| |- |-align=center |style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win |1-0 |align=left| Jesse McGhee |TKO | 3 (4),N/A |1989-02-24 | align=left|Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |align=left|