New Jersey Refuses to Sanction Tim Sylvia's Boxing Debut
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 9:48 PM EDT
in News
39 comments
MMA Weekly has the story regarding Adrenaline III:
The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has refused to sanction the headlining bout, according to Commissioner Nick Lembo, though he declined to comment on the decision.
Adrenaline III will go on as an all-MMA card, and several replacements for the main event are under consideration, including Jeremy Horn.
Adrenaline promoter Monte Cox is currently searching for another venue to host the Sylvia/Mercer tilt, and indicated June as a possibility for the rescheduled event.
This was a ridiculous idea from the beginning. The troubling aspect of the above report is that Cox is looking to find a commission (or maybe a place on earth without a commission) that's willing to allow this match to take place.
Props to MMA For Real
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What’s the problem? Are you worried about Mercer or Sylvia? Why? Tim Sylvia is a professional fighter, and so is Ray Mercer, but because Tim Sylvia hasn’t been in a pro boxing match he shouldn’t get a chance at a washed up former boxing champ who’s 47 yrs old. I’d like to see this fight (alright I wouldn’t pay for it, I’d watch it the day after on youtube).
by bubbafat on Mar 24, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not worried about either one per se. However, I do think that Sylvia not having any professional boxing experience fighting against a former champion, albeit a 47-year-old one, isn’t a great idea. I don’t even know whether Mercer should even be fighting. I’d like to know the reasoning behind New Jersey’s decision. All in all, I don’t see much upside in the affair.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh, yeah you don’t like the idea, what we want to know is why really.
by spectaa on Mar 24, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe it’s just personal preference, but I don’t care to see a way past his prime boxer against a mixed martial artist with no boxing experience. There’s really no upside for Sylvia and MMA that I can see. I would guess that most would say that he should beat a much older Mercer if he wins. If he loses, you’ve got a former UFC champion losing to an over-the-hill boxer. It’s an argument fraught with problems, but it’s one that will surely have legs with boxing partisans.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if Sylvia has no boxing experience, wouldn’t his MMA training be worth something? He’s made a living thus far getting punched in the face, I don’t see why it shouldn’t transfer from sport to sport. Not that I think this fight is a good idea (I’m more concerned for Mercer), but "lack of experience" wasn’t high on my list.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Mar 24, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s certainly worth something, but Mercer has really only ever boxed. At one time he was one of the best. Sylvia’s only chance in my opinion is for Mercer’s age to have totally eroded his skills. I don’t think the likelihood of either one sustaining a serious injury is all that high, but the whole thing wreaks of circus sideshow.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MMA isn’t boxing. We are talking about a guy with 41 boxing fights against a guy who has never boxed before. Even if you give Sylvia credit for being a high level professional MMA fighter that doesn’t mean that he is also a professional boxer and that is what athletic commissions are going to look at. If things were reversed and this was a MMA fight then I bet they wouldn’t sanction it for the same reason going to other way.
by who me on Mar 24, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I get the reverse – MMA is vastly more complex than boxing. Mercer wouldn’t have the training in grappling, kicking, wrestling, etc. Instead, Sylvia wants to box Mercer – punching only. Sylvia was largely a puncher in MMA. If Sylvia’s lack of boxing experience was the cause of the rejection (the commission never elaborated), I wouldn’t understand that. There are many better reason to have canceled the fight.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Mar 24, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MMA striking doesn’t really translate into professional boxing skill or experience, it is still two separate things. Honestly I don’t see where the athletic commission would of been worried about Sylvia’s health going into a fight with a 47 year old Mercer but it’s quite possible that they just didn’t like the huge difference in professional boxing experience between the two. I mean has Tim Sylvia ever even boxed in an amateur bout?
Of course they didn’t sanction Mercer vs Kimbo as an actual professional MMA fight either as that was sanctioned as an exhibition (neither guy had any MMA experience). Maybe New Jersey just doesn’t like Ray Mercer?
by who me on Mar 24, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They probably looked at pictures of both men and said…..“umm…..NO.”
Hello, Japan!
by Mr.Kib on Mar 25, 2009 4:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s sad when Jeremy Horn is your fallback for getting a sanctioned fight.
by subo on Mar 24, 2009 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts exactly
never thought I’d read this sentence post-2005:
and several replacements for the main event are under consideration, including Jeremy Horn.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Mar 24, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yaa.. whats up with that?
Hello, Japan!
by Mr.Kib on Mar 25, 2009 4:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
didn’t that celebrity boxing match between Jose Canseco and Vai Sikahema take place in NJ just last year?
Canseco has less experience in the ring than tim sylvia….
by nastyem on Mar 24, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
I guess they didn’t view Sikahema’s amateur experience as being all that important. We could be jumping the gun on the reasoning also. I don’t believe there has been an official announcement regarding the reasoning for non-sanctioning. I still think it’s a bad idea.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt they sanction celebrity boxing as professional bouts.
by who me on Mar 24, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re probably right. That really didn’t cross my mind.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 24, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couldn’t they just be paid appearance fees and the fight called an exhibition match?
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 24, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Last time that happened, Apollo Creed died.
Although there is certainly no Drago in this fight.
by subo on Mar 24, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
lolololol!
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 25, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
doing that would probably piss off the commissoin.
I’m not sure if it’s legal or not, but going around a commission ruling would probably make them mad, and make it harder for them to do business together in the future.
by Phildo on Mar 25, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously though, if they really wanted this fight sanctioned they wouldn’t have gone to New Jersey. That AC is tough.
They should have gone to Texas if they wanted this fight to happen. There’s a reason why Evander Holyfield fights there almost exclusively after losing his fighter’s license in practically every other state.
by ilostmydog on Mar 25, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Holyfield was ROBBED in that Championship bout, there are no two ways about it. The fight sucked, but Holyfield won that belt.
by gavingavinkindgavin on Mar 25, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case anyone missed it, Andrei Arlovski had to pull out of his boxing debut a couple days ago:
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski was scheduled to make his professional boxing debut April 4 on the Paul Williams-Winky Wright undercard at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, but he has withdrawn from the bout after suffering a mild back strain in training. “Although Andrei is healing fine and would be ready for April 11, I decided that there is no point in rushing his recovery, so I pulled him,” manager Billy Keane told ESPN.com. “The hope is to see him in action in May or June at the latest.”
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 25, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Did not know that.
That sucks. Rec’d for attention.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Mar 25, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone is saying that Sylvia doesnt have the experience to box with Mercer.
Maybe the commission is more afraid what will happen to Mercer if Tim lands a huge shot on him.
It may be a boxing match and it may be his debut, but Mercer is 47 and is in a very good position to get hurt.
Tim may not be a boxer but he could easily end Mercers boxing career with a vicious punch, even if its a fluke. The commission is looking out for both of their safety in this situation, I believe and made the right call.
There are plenty of other people Tim can box to make a debut, why would they choose a 47 year old man who is beyond the end of his career? Hell make him box with Arlovski in May or June.
by DirtyML on Mar 25, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That could have something to do with it, Ray Mercer is practically ancient in boxing years and he hasn’t actually fought a boxing fight in the US since 2005 (his last three fights were overseas). They might not want to sanction Mercer to box anyone anymore in New Jersey.
by who me on Mar 25, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m of the frame of mind that this is insulting. They let Kimbo fight him in an MMA match when neither of them knew a thing about MMA, everyone knows a guillotine. I don’t think Mercer stands a chance boxing or MMA. There I said it.
by bubbafat on Mar 25, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They only allowed the Kimbo fight as an exhibition match not an actual professional MMA match, that’s why that fight isn’t actually part of Kimbo’s win/loss record, it wasn’t sanctioned as a professional fight. Of course as you said as far as MMA went they were both at the same level of experience(none), that makes that completly different than former boxing champion Ray Mercer vs never boxed in his life Tim Sylvia.
by who me on Mar 25, 2009 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s correct. In MMA terms Kimbo and Mercer were both rookies so in a sense it was a fair match up.
by bignerd on Mar 25, 2009 3:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Many possible reasons
There’s Ray Mercer’s past HIV positive tests, the fact he’s 47 and Tim’s much younger etc. Perhaps one of the fighters failed a physical or a test during the medical screening. I doubt it’s because of Sylvia’s lack of boxing experience. If Sylvia was fighting a boxer in his prime it would be an issue but Mercer’s boxing skills have greatly eroded since the days he was on top.
I wouldn’t sanction the fight because Tim is much, younger, larger, faster, and has the potential to seriously injure Mercer.
by ace328 on Mar 25, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
When did Ray Mercer have a positive HIV test?
by who me on Mar 25, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You might be thinking of Tommy Morrison.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Mar 25, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right, I was thinking of Tommy. My bad.
by ace328 on Mar 25, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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![Mariusz Pudzianowski (1-0) signs the contract to fight Tim Sylvia (25-6):
"I’m not concerned at all [that the fight vs. Sylvia will not happen]. I have a clause in my contract that once I sign it, within 24-hours I will receive certain percent of my purse for this bout. If it’s not there, I’m not going anywhere."
"Listen, I’m not afraid of anyone. I have my next fight on May 7th and another two weeks later, if everything goes as planned I’ll face [Olympic judoka] Pawel [Nastula] in September. I do it step by step."
-- Full interview at fightersonlymagazine.co.uk
Moosin in Worcester coverage [May 21st]](http://cdn0.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/104881/29da3jc_small.jpg)
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