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On This Day: Ray Mercer scores one of the most gruesome finishes in boxing history against Tommy Morrison

One of the first WBO heavyweight title fights is won emphatically by Ray Mercer

Matt Christie

18th October, 2020

On This Day: Ray Mercer scores one of the most gruesome finishes in boxing history against Tommy Morrison
The Ring Magazine via Getty Images

RAY MERCER w rsf 5 TOMMY MORRISON
October 18, 1991; Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
THEY wouldn’t stop. The right hands and left hands kept coming. They clattered into the chin of Tommy Morrison. Keeping him on his feet, plunging him into darkness. Ray Mercer was throwing the punches, living up to his ‘Merciless’ nickname with every blow. Referee Joe Cortez couldn’t get inside Mercer to rescue Morrison. Tommy was in a heap on the canvas. Simply, this heavyweight battle of unbeaten contenders produced one of the most gruesome finishes in boxing history. The fact we as boxing fans still watch it today, over and over again, says it all about the curious pull of this punishing sport.

DID YOU KNOW? Mercer and Morrison were supposed to fight two months before. Morrison suffered an injury, Riddick Bowe stepped in, then Mercer suffered an injury so Bruce Seldon stepped in. Bowe stopped Seldon in a round.

WATCH OUT FOR: Morrison attempting to persuade everyone he could still continue, several minutes after the fight had been stopped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rUenhWMTdU

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