Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer To Fight Under MMA Rules After Boxing Match Deemed Illegal
A scheduled boxing match between former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former boxing champion Ray Mercer that was to headline Adenaline III has been scrapped, with the pair of former champions now set to square off in an MMA-rules bout this Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama.
Details on the switch from Sherdog:
Association of Boxing Commissions President Tim Lueckenhoff told Sherdog.com that neither he nor the ABC organization had been approached directly to regulate the bout. Further, Lueckenhoff said he’d thought Sylvia-Mercer would be an MMA contest and not a boxing bout. Lueckenhoff said federal law currently has no jurisdiction over MMA bouts, but laws are in place over boxing under the Professional Boxing Safety Act.
In a press release issued by the ABC on Thursday, the organization denounced the “unwarranted and illegal” boxing match. The release also noted that the River Cree commission, as well as referee John McCarthy, had withdrawn their involvement from the bout and event.
“Canadian boxing commissions are not authorized to supervise boxing matches in the U.S.; and, patently, it is wholly inappropriate for one representative from a Canadian boxing commission, together with an MMA referee, to supervise a boxing match,” said Bruce C. Spizler, chairman of the ABC legal committee in the release.
“Everyone thinks I came to Alabama because it’s unsanctioned here,” said Cox, “but why would I go to so much trouble to try and get this event regulated if that were the case?”
The last-minute rules switch is just the latest snag for the fight, which was originally to take place on May 30th in Atlantic City, New Jersey before the state’s athletic commission declined to regulate the contest. It was then moved to Alabama, which lacks a commission to sanction the bout, where it was scheduled to take place under boxing rules in an MMA cage before being forced to take place under MMA rules just two days before the fight.
UFC veterans Rich Clementi and Jeremy Horn will also be in action on the card.
[Pictured: Tim Sylvia]
Tags: jeremy horn, Ray Mercer, Rich Clementi, Tim Sylvia
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Tym Silvia, just hang it up dude, you’ve become another Shamrock dude, your making yourself look foolish and you’ve discredited you previous UFC Championships. Ray Mercer????
Tim “i used to wear my belt when i went grocery shopping” sylvia is embrassing. It’s one thing to have a “boxing” match. But now it’s mma rules against mercer?? a dude I could probably submit?
Man clementi is a good fighter dude and i think he should be in a better organization. Anyone know who he’s fighting?
Yeah this has gone to far!!!
Who in their right mind even wants to see this!!
Guys lets not forget Mercer has fought an MMA fight before. He was submitted by a legendary Ground ace… oh wait no it was an underground ace…
that was an amatuer fight, if memory serves me right, Kevin’s first “official” MMA bout was against Bo Cantrell
You’re correct sir… I figured the fact that it was an exhibition would add to the sarcasm… gotta find a way to convey that online…
All signs point to “this bout should never happen”, yet Cox, Sylvia, and Mercer still move forward… ::facepalm::
I like the new Avatar
Thanks.
Sure this fight is going to be contested under MMA rules but id bet a pound to a penny that it remains on the feet and the loser will end up being KTFO! Personally however I think whoever dreamt up this match up should be kicked squarelly in the balls I mean things are getting desperate for Adrenaline, maybe at Adrenaline IV we will see Cris Cyborg vs Evangalista Cyborg, Bob Sapp vs a polar bear, Shamrock vs Shamrock and headlined by the long awaited Robocop vs Terminator showdown! Id take Robocop by submission 2nd round however
AND A DIAZ VS DIAZ, KIMBO VS MAYWEATHER CO-HEADLINER… AND TO TOP IT OFF, HOW ABOUT THROW IN SHOGUN VS MACHIDA? OH WAIT…
I’m sorry…this is just sad, either as a boxing match or an MMA bout.
I know this is going to come off as fighter-bashing, which I understand this forum tries hard to avoid, but Ray Mercer? Really, nothing-happening Ray Mercer versus the least popular fighter in all of MMA?! What I don’t understand about this “contest” is who asked for this fight? There is clearly NO demand to see this, aside from the occasional half-drunk NHB or toughman contest fan. The fans don’t really have anyone to root for, when the choices are between a boxing has-been and unlikable Tim Sylvia.
Also, something like this does nothing for either the sport in general or the promotion in particular? Is the “Cox” referenced in the article Monte Cox? He must be the only person profitting here. The sport, the fans, and ultimately the contestants stand to lose far more than they do to gain if this trainwreck actually goes down.
No wonder Big John walked away from this…
Yes, it is referring to Monte Cox, he owns the Adrenalin promotion, I do believe.
Monte Cox does not own Adrenaline. I believe it is owned by Sibling. I think Monte is in charge of it but not the owner. He is also the Manager of guys on the card like Clementi, Horn and Sylvia. That would be why they are fighting on it.
Thanks for setting that straight.
THATS A HORRIBLE PICTURE OF TIM BY THE WAY.. LOL
can you really take a good one?
I don’t think you can.