Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994 TAG: 9403300107
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Knight-Ridder/Tribune and Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The jury, which deliberated for five hours, returned its verdict around 4:30 p.m. after a two-week trial in Manhattan's state Supreme Court. Mercer's mother, Betty, squealed in delight, then covered her face and eyes when the verdict was read.
Mercer, sitting at the defense table Mercer with his fingers intertwined, showed no emotion during the verdict. Afterward, Mercer, 31, said he was hoping to resume his career soon.
"It'll take me two months to get in shape, and I'll be back in the ring," Mercer said. "And believe me, my lips won't move."
He was accused of offering a payoff to underdog Jesse Ferguson during their Feb. 6, 1993, fight. Prosecutors said Mercer, overweight and undertrained, wanted Ferguson to take a dive so he could fight then-champion Riddick Bowe for a $1.5 million payday.
Ferguson, 37, was the prosecution's main witness, and the key evidence was a largely inaudible Home Box Office tape of the 10-round fight. Ferguson took a decision over Mercer, winning a title shot against Bowe.
The referee, Wayne Kelly, testified he heard a lot of "jive talk" from Ferguson, but no talk of money from either fighter. He said it was ironic that he had reprimanded Ferguson for talking too much.
In Levallois, France, Miguel Angel Gonzalez (31-0) of Mexico retained his WBC lightweight title, stopping Jean-Baptiste Mendy (48-5) of France in the fifth round. Gonzalez was making the fifth defense of the title he won in 1992. Mendy, 31, the European lightweight champion for two years, was fighting in his first world championship bout.
Keywords:
BOXING
by CNB