MMA Junkie spreads the good news:
While first pitched as an MMA contest, Sylvia (24-5 MMA, 0-0 Boxing) will instead turn in his open-fingered gloves for a pair of boxing mitts.
"I was doing Tim Sylvia against Ray Mercer as a headliner," Cox said. "First I was doing it in MMA. We changed and thought it would be a lot more interesting in boxing."
Mercer (36-7-1 Boxing) began boxing professionally in 1989. Now 47-years-old, Mercer last fought in a majority decision win over Richel Hersisia (30-2 boxing).
You won't be able to catch the May 30 Adrenaline MMA III event from Trump Taj Mahal on HDNet:
Despite having one event remaining on a broadcast contract with HDNet, Adrenaline's third event will not be shown on the network that carried the organization's first two outings.
"It won't be on HDNet," Cox said. "I still have a deal left. But (HDNet Fights CEO) Andrew Simon decided that he didn't want to do that show."
Instead, Cox will look to broadcast the event with an alternate partner.
"I've got another group that put together a deal with me where it would be available in 55 million homes and another one that's up to 70 million homes," Cox said. "I'll do one of those two."
Tim Sylvia has gone from being an unpopular, but largely successful, UFC heavyweight champion to the guy who got beat up by Fedor Emelianenko in short order (over and over again via the Affliction TV spot) to an MMA fighter set for a boxing scrap against a 47-year-old former champ in Mercer. Explain to me why HDNet wants no part of this MMA/Boxing hybrid event.
