Claremont
The former World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medalist and boxing Hall of Famer in three different states planned on a military life, growing up in Jacksonville, Fla. It was in the U.S. Army that Mercer first took to the sport at age 23. Boxing, it seems, found him.
Since retiring in 2010, after short stints in kickboxing and mixed martial arts, Mercer has dedicated his life to using his platform for good. He will continue that work Friday at Stevens High School in “Going for the Gold,” a meet-and-greet with Mercer on behalf of the Green Dot Program, which promotes nonviolence and civility in conjunction with Claremont’s Turning Points Network.
“Now, I make appearances,” Mercer said over the phone on Wednesday. “We do that, try to help out in our communities. It’s what I do. I never knew I’d have the opportunity for people to listen to me. Since I am who I am, I’m able to do that. It wasn’t something I thought about before I started boxing.”
Dustin Warburton, a longtime friend of Mercer’s who works for Claremont’s Green Dot violence prevention program, helped organize the event.
“I think it’s going to help spread the word,” Warburton said. “We want to find anybody who wants to be a part of it. (Violence) is kind of a taboo topic. People don’t want to talk about it, do anything about it. We’re trying to confront it head-on.
“This will get the word out. A real champion with good values, an American, a free meet-and-greet? You don’t see stuff like that.”
Mercer’s boxing career lasted close to 20 years, ending in 2008 with a 36-7-1 record and 26 knockouts. His last fight was in 2009, an MMA match with former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. Mercer, 49 years old at the time, won the fight via knockout in 9 seconds.
“The checks,” Mercer said with a laugh when he was asked what he missed the most. “I miss getting those checks.
“I miss working out every day,” he added. “I miss the routine. I miss training with all those people; it was a family-type thing. I miss training, I don’t necessarily miss the fighting. … I don’t miss getting hit.”
Mercer was 64-6 as an amateur before heading to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He defeated South Korea’s Baik Hyun-Man in the gold medal match, and he is the last American to win a gold medal in the heavyweight division. He turned pro one year later, in 1989, holding the WBO heavyweight title from 1991-92.
Mercer was later inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame and the Carolina Boxing Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the U.S. Marine Hall of Fame earlier this year.
“I left (boxing) with the regret of, ‘I should have trained a little harder,’ ” Mercer said. “I wish I took it a little more serious. Boxing was never a dream of mine. I wanted to play football. … Before boxing came along, I expected to be a military man.”
Mercer has found in a new calling in post-career philanthropy. He sits on the board of two nonprofit organizations: Kickin’ It, an anti-bullying organization in New Jersey, and Find a Dream, which supports America’s youth through education and sports.
“Dustin’s been a friend for a long time,” Mercer said. “When I heard what he was doing, I wanted to be a part of it.”
Doors open Friday at 6 p.m. at the Stevens High auditorium. The event, which is free to the public, begins at 6:30 p.m. All attendees will be given an opportunity to meet Mercer for a photo op and will receive a free autographed picture.
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.