“Merciless” Ray Mercer (born April 4, 1961 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American professional boxer, mixed martial artist and former WBO World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist who resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Mercer was the 1988 United States Amateur Champion at Heavyweight while in the US Army and compiled an Amateur record of 64-6. He won Gold in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as a heavyweight. In 1989, Mercer fought Barry Flowers (USAF) which contributed to a K.O. win in the 7th round.
On June 13, 2009, Mercer defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at Adrenaline III: Bragging Rights. He won the fight via knockout in 9 seconds, becoming the first man to ever defeat Sylvia by knockout. He then called out Eric Esch after the fight. In March 2010, it was announced that Mercer had signed with the King of the Cage organization.