So this was a card that was meant to have happened but fell apart because of financial issues, if it had gone ahead, who wins? Bruno v Mercer Morrison v Hide
Depends upon which Mercer shows up. Mercer blew hot and cold. The Mercer that fought Lennox Lewis destroys Bruno in a late round TKO after trailing on points. The Mercer that Fought Jesse Ferguson gets shut out by Bruno. Hide-Morrison is a toss up since both men could bang yet both men were vulnerable. Gotta go with Morrison though if you had to pick. Morrison's victory over Ruddock is better than anything Hide has done.
Hide wasn't shit. Tommy blows him away. That leaves Bruno-Mercer, which could go either way. Mercer wasn't a devastating hitter like Lewis or Tyson, so that bodes well for Frank. Frank had a heavy jab, and enough power to at least keep Mercer honest. But still, Bruno's late round stamina can NEVER be trusted. There's a very good chance of Mercer stopping a tiring Bruno circa 10-12. Literally a 50-50 fight.
An in shape Mercer would always give Lewis hell because of his chin and aggressiveness. It's a styles thing. Lewis couldn't "in-fight" for his life. It's just that most fighters didn't have the chin or courage to dare to do try it.
It was more the jab that gave Lewis problems than anything else in that fight ( which is why I agree Mercer always gives him trouble), Lewis acquitted himself pretty well during the inside exchanges I thought. Any guy that can jab with Lewis gives him hell.
IF Bruno takes enough out of Mercer in the early going then he wins because Ray is just a short guy with a brilliant jab, when you get down to it. If Frank has taken a bit out of him then it should compensate for Franks inevitable weariness in the late rounds. Hide's best win was over a guy who got rid of Morrisson in a round, and Hide really only lost badly to very good heavyweights like Vitali and Bowe. If Tommy is clean and prepared he probably get Hide out of there in 4 rounds. Anything less and he gets sucked into a sloppy war and who knows.
Hide could crack for sure, Bowe said he was the hardest puncher he faced. There is the potential for Hide to take Tommy out quickly, he had the speed to catch him with something early doors that Morrison doesn't see coming. Overall though you have to fancy Morrison to take it, he had way more heart than Hide.
Hide definitely had the physical ability to blast Morrison and I would support him but he would probably freeze and throw himself to the floor. Bruno would control against Mercer early and bust him up but as Ray would keep coming, he would succumb late
