The Warrior Returns
DateMay 20, 1995
VenueConvention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Tale of the tape
Boxer Evander Holyfield Ray Mercer
Nickname "The Real Deal" "Merciless"
Hometown Atlanta Georgia, U.S. Union City, New Jersey, U.S.
Purse $2,000,000 $250,000
Pre-fight record 30–2 23–2–1
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg) 224 lb (102 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition 2-division undisputed world champion Former WBO heavyweight champion
Result
Holyfield defeats Mercer by unanimous decision (97–92, 96–93, 95–94)

Evander Holyfield vs. Ray Mercer, billed as "The Warrior Returns" was a professional boxing match contested on May 20, 1995.

Background

Evander Holyfield's second heavyweight championship reign had ended after only 5 months following a loss to Michael Moorer in his first defense. Holyfield was hospitalized after the fight and it was determined that he had a previously undetected heart ailment and was advised to retire immediately, which he would officially announce only four days after the Moorer fight.[1] In June Holyfield attended one of televangelist and "faith healer" Benny Hinn's healing sessions. After being touched by Hinn, Holyfield claimed he felt a "warm feeling" go through his body and afterwards proclaimed he was "healed" of his heart ailment and was ready to resume his boxing career.[2] Holyfield initially failed to get medical clearance after a New York cardiologist determined that his heart ailment had not healed sufficiently enough to allow Holyfield to continue boxing in September.[3] However, two months later, the Mayo Clinic did medically clear Holyfield with a spokesman for the clinic stating that Holyfield was in "excellent health."[4] As the Nevada Athletic Commission had medically suspended Holyfield's boxing license, the five-person committee would have to vote to reinstate Holyfield and in February 1995 the commission would vote 4–1 to lift Holyfield's ban.[5] The following month, Holyfield would announce his comeback bout would be against former WBO heavyweight champion Ray Mercer.[6]

The fight

In a hard fought affair, Holyfield rebounded from a deep cut over his right eye to earn a unanimous decision victory. Mercer opened the cut during the sixth round. The cut plagued Holyfield to the point that the referee stopped the fight in the eighth to allow the ringside physician to check on the cut. After the fight resume Mercer went on the attack and even began showboating by winding up his left hand before throwing his right. Holyfield would come back with a barrage of punches that sent Mercer to his knees for the first and only knockdown of the fight and the first knockdown of Mercer's professional career. Holyfield would control the remainder of the fight and won all three scorecards with scores of 97–92, 96–93 and 95–94.[7]

Holyfield chose not to have a traditional cut-man in his corner instead having his head trainer Don Turner handle the duties. This would almost backfire for Holyfield as the deep cut that he received in the sixth round nearly cost him a victory. Said the ringside physician Dr. Frank Doggett "I thought his cut man did a terrible job. A good cut man could stop that. If it got any worse I would have stopped it."[8]

Fight card

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight 200+ lb Evander Holyfield def. Ray Mercer UD 10/10
Middleweight 160 lb Héctor Camacho (c) def. Homer Gibbins UD 12/12 Note 1
Heavyweight 200+ lb David Tua def. Dan Murphy TKO 5/10
Welterweight 147 lb Sal Lopez def Jermal Corbin RTD 4/8
Heavyweight 200+ lb Michael Grant def Lou Turchiarelli TKO 1/8

^Note 1 For IBC Middleweight title

References

  1. ↑ Holyfield Ends Boxing Career, Washington Post article, 1994-04-27, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  2. ↑ Holyfield "Healed" for Return, NY Times article, 1994-06-14, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  3. ↑ Holyfield Fails to Get Medical Clearance, NY Times article, 1994-09-15, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  4. ↑ Holyfield Receives Clearance to Fight, NY Times article, 1994-11-24, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  5. ↑ Holyfield Ban Lifted, NY Times article, 1995-02-25, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  6. ↑ Holyfield Gets Clearance to Fight Mercer in Jersey, Chicago Tribune article, 1995-03-07, Retrieved on 2020-03-30
  7. ↑ Holyfield makes triumphant return, UPI article, 1995-05-21 Retrieved on 2020-03-31
  8. ↑ Holyfield Begins Comeback With Unanimous Decision Over Mercer, NY Times article, 1995-05-21, Retrieved on 2020-03-31
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