Sherdog reports that the Tim Sylvia vs Ray Mercer boxing match that New Jersey refused to sanction has been moved:
Speaking with Sherdog.com, promoter Monte Cox announced the six-round heavyweight fight would be rescheduled for June 13 in Alabama as the main event of Adrenaline III. The hybrid boxing-mixed martial arts event will be held at the 17,000-seat BJCC arena in Birmingham.
Cox confirmed that Alabama does not have a regulatory body to oversee the fight.
Pretty hinky of Monte Cox to take a fight that was turned down by one of the leading Athletic Commissions in the U.S. and move it to a venue with no regulation.
Something tells me Big Tim hasn't been paying that close attention to the boxing ranks lately, from MMA Mania:
"I didn't have an MMA fight until July in the Affliction 3 (show), and we really wanted to fight before then. This opportunity came about - and I've always wanted to try boxing at a pro level - so we decided to take it and see what happens. I'm jumping in the deep end. I never have (done things half way). Look at the heavyweight (MMA) division; I've fought about seven of the Top 10. So I might as well jump right in there and fight a guy that's ranked in the Top 20 in the world."
BE boxing guru Brent Brookhouse added this comment:
...honestly probably not since he lost back to back fights to Lewis/Holyfield in 95/96. He beat up some cans, had a brief retirement and lost to Wlad Klitschko in 2002. I guess someone may have called him a top 20 guy at that point, but even that was a stretch.
Now Mercer since his most recent comeback is 2-1 against guys who aren’t top shelf guys. So yeah, since 2007 he lost a fight, beat a scrub and won a 6 round fight by majority decision. Obviously the mark of a top 20 boxer.
