As Christmas fast approaches, talkSPORT.com continues it’s daily look at its favourite knockouts as it counts down the days. It’s a classic cracker next.
Ray Mercer battered Tommy Morrison in a ferocious heavyweight classic which left the latter in a bad way.
Olympic gold medallist Mercer had the world at his feet having turned over as a professional and put together a 17-fight win streak before picking up the WBO world title in 1991.
He wanted to push on and continue to push his name to the top of the division, but standing in his way was Morrison, an undefeated KO artist with 28 wins [23 KOs].
The superstar had shot to fame for his exploits outside of the ring where he starred as Tommy Gunn in the Rocky V film as part of the boxing franchise.
In the film he fights ageing boxer Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, in the streets but it ends badly and he is arrested after being beaten.
And unfortunately, despite never being beaten in his professional career things were about to take a similar unfortunate downturn.
The pair were set to meet in August 1991 but Morrison had been cut in sparring and as a result the fight was rescheduled for October.
It was just another layer to a crazy storyline, but the pair eventually met in an intriguing encounter.
Morrison started off the brighter and managed to outbox his rival in the opening three periods, in cruise control.
He had even opened up a cut on Mercer’s lip who initially appeared to be fighting a losing battle, but proceedings made a sharp twist.
But ‘Merciless’ wrestled back momentum in the fourth and the tides turned as he let his hands go, with the stiff right hook of choice landing regularly on Morrison’s temple.
And after a quick regroup, the pair came out for the fifth round and it lasted just 28 seconds.
Mercer backed his rival with a neat swivel and began unloading a dangerous barrage of 19 total unanswered shots.
His hands were simply too quick and the shots were hitting the mark with earth-shattering power as he switched focus to the head.
A series of battering hooks including a dynamite left hand rendered Morrison unconscious while still standing propped up against the ropes.
The referee failed to immediately spot this and he took more blows having already been knocked out, unnecessary and worrying damage.
It was eventually stopped but Morrison lay flat out cold on the canvas having taken some seriously crushing punishment.
Many suggested it was one of the worst stoppages in the history of the sport, and the backlash was huge.
But nonetheless the stoppage saw Mercer’s name thrust into the bigger heavyweight picture, as he immediately set chase to Evander Holyfield‘s undisputed heavyweight crown.
But in an eliminator with boxing icon Larry Holmes, he was beaten in an upset by the slick-jabbing American who derailed his title charge.
Mercer did eventually fight Holyfield in 1995 losing by controversial decision before suffering another defeat to Lennox Lewis the following year.
He was unable to reign as a heavyweight championship before the end of his career but he did challenge for one against Wladimir Klitschko but was beaten in 2002.
The power-punching star retired in 2008 after a high-level career, with a resume containing some hugely talented names.
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As for Morrison he was able to get back on track after the fight winning eight outings in a row before fighting George Foreman for the exact WBO title again in 1993.
He pulled off a brilliant victory to be crowned champion, but was eventually dethroned by Michael Bentt in the highlight of his rival’s short-lived career.
Morrison went on to have a solid career beating Donovan Ruddock in 1995, before losing to Lennox Lewis later that year.
In 1996 he unfortunately tested positive for HIV, though the fighter disputed that he had the virus. Nevertheless, it brought an end to his boxing career, aged just 27 and was sent into an early retirement.
The Nevada Athletic Commission lifted his ban from boxing in 2006 and it allowed him to make a comeback in 2007, winning back-to-back bouts, as well as even making a surprise debut in MMA.
He died in 2013, aged just 44. Morrison’s wife, Trisha, has continued to fight to clear up the untruths around her husband’s HIV diagnosis in the years following his death from organ failure.
But both Mercer and Morrison left their own unique legacies in the sport, and their famous ‘Test of Courage’ fight will live long in the memory of global boxing.
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