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[Sakara=Excitement]

Ray Mercer Returning to MMA Next Month Against Undefeated Ron Sparks

After he humiliated Tim Sylvia last June, we were worried that former boxing champ Ray Mercer would ride off into the sunset for good, having proved himself a master at two different combat sports. But you have to give the dude credit — he hasn't given up on MMA competition, and he won't be fighting scrubs just to collect a paycheck. MMAFighting.com passes along the news that Mercer will be appearing at a King of the Cage event on April 16th in Detroit, against Ron "The Monster" Sparks, a 6'5", 300-pound bruiser with a 5-0 record. Granted, Sparks's first four opponents were making their pro debuts, and his last one has a losing record. Still, considering that Mercer is just 1-0 himself (not including his exhibition bout against Kimbo Slice in 2007), it's a matchup that makes sense. Will Mercer continue to find success as a mixed martial artist? How long will it take until he's ready for a UFC heavyweight title shot against James Toney? KOTC's 4/16 show will be headlined by Jeremy Horn vs. Jake Rosholt, and will be broadcast live on HDNet.

Speaking of boxers crossing over into MMA, Shine Fights has signed undefeated NABO cruiserweight champion B.J. Flores (24-0-1, 15 KOs) to a non-exclusive fight contract. Shine Fights previously drew attention with their signing of former junior middleweight boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga — who will face Din Thomas on May 15th — but their new acquisition is even more notable because Flores is a current boxing champion who's basically in his prime. Flores's debut-date and first opponent have not yet been named.

[Xanatos]

I have nothing against Ray Mercer. He came into things without saying much. wasn't a big lousmouth like Toney, and KTFO Tim Sylvia, so good for him.


HA Mercer vs Toney in an mma match. that sounds so illogical.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

I wanna see more "Half Man/Half Amazing" if any pro boxer cares to continue their MMA careers. Jeremy Williams has the potential to be something REALLY special.

[willpunisher]

Originally Posted by Xanatos

I have nothing against Ray Mercer. He came into things without saying much. wasn't a big lousmouth like Toney, and KTFO Tim Sylvia, so good for him.

got the words right out of my mouth. hope he does well too.

[jlruthven84]

Anybody know anything about Ron Sparks? I seem to have heard his name before, but not much else.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

With that being said, in comparison of the two, Toney is the much better and much more accomplished boxer and I somewhat allow him to run his mouth given the boxing hypemachine pedigree he's coming from. If message boards were around in the mid 80s onward, when boxing had steep talent pools, I think there'd be alot more talkers like guys like Toney, because that's just their promotional tool.

[XitdiesXtodayX]

I use to actually train at the same gym as Sparks out in Louisville,Ky.He's a beast but i don't see things going well if he stands with Mercer.Dude is definitely strong enough to take Mercer down but he doesn't exactly have the best subs in the world.Still gotta go with Sparks on a GnP stoppage.

[NinjaShogunRua]

This should be a pretty good KOTC card with Rosholt vs. Horn, Mercer vs. Sparks, and others. Best of all it airs live on HDNet.

[beau420]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

Anybody know anything about Ron Sparks? I seem to have heard his name before, but not much else.

I find it weird he didn't fight between 9/30/2006 and 3/6/2009

Don't think it was jail, because his first fight back after the hiatus was in Edmonton....unless he was paid under the table.

I find it weird....I hope he is learning how to stay out of the way from an overhand right.