New Jersey State Athletic Control Board refuses to sanction Tim Sylvia’s boxing debut against Ray Mercer on May 30

MMAmania.com has been able to confirm with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) that former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia will not be allowed to make his boxing debut against former Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer after the NJSACB has refused to sanction their main event fight scheduled for Adrenaline III at the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. on May 30.

“The Maine-iac” had agreed to box Mercer — barely one month after “Merciless” turns 48 years of age — not long after calling out Ken Shamroid last December. Sylvia has been on the shelf since getting steamrolled by Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction “Banned” last July and was not expected to fight an MMA match until a planned third event this summer.

From Sylvia:

I didn’t have an MMA fight until July in the Affliction 3 (show), and we really wanted to fight before then. This opportunity came about – and I’ve always wanted to try boxing at a pro level – so we decided to take it and see what happens. I’m jumping in the deep end. I never have (done things half way). Look at the heavyweight (MMA) division; I’ve fought about seven of the Top 10. So I might as well jump right in there and fight a guy that’s ranked in the Top 20 in the world.”

Mercer’s last bout was a majority decision win (boxing) over Richel Hersisiar last September in Nojesfabriken, Karlstad, Sweden, but is probably best known in the MMA world for getting choked out in an exhibition bout with Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson in July 2007.

It will be interesting to see if there is an attempt to reschedule Sylvia’s boxing debut for a state with a more lenient sanctioning body.

Regardless, it’s still more than two months until the Adrenaline III card — which is plenty of time to find a suitable heavyweight to replace Mercer if Sylvia remains in the main event under MMA rules.

I hear Jason Guida is available.

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