A FIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE; QUARRY VS. FOREMAN

Written by admin on September 14, 2009 in Dream Fights, Heavyweights

A FIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE; QUARRY VS. FOREMAN
Jerry Quarry
photo courtesy
David Martinez
private collection

NOTE: this is article #1 of a series of eight for your enjoyment from boxing writer Jim Amato. The order of articles are listed (in order) below and will be featured from September 2009 through November 2009 with each article based on boxing greats had they met at peak of their careers in ring:
1) Jerry Quarry vs. George Foreman
2) Carlos Monzon vs. Gene Fullmer
3) Joe Frazier vs. Ron Lyle
4) Manny Pacquiao vs. Roberto Duran
5) Salvador Sanchez vs. Alexis Arguello
6) Nino Benvenuti vs. Vito Antuofermo
7) Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Alexis Arguello Ray Mancini vs. Harry Arroyo

By Jim Amato

Superfights.. It is a very over used term these days. Some of the PPV “superfights” of today would have been nice Saturday afternoon feature bouts on ABC’s Wide World Of Sports in my day.

There were several bouts from the late 1960′s to the early 1980′s I wish would have been made. These are bouts that actually had been rumored in the making or someone’s wishful thinking. If some of these bouts had taken place it could of altered the history of boxing forever.
In January of 1973 big George Foreman disrupted the plans of an Ali-Frazier rematch. George gave Joe as one sided a whipping a you’ll ever see. One month later a “washed up” Jerry Quarry derailed the Ron Lyle express to the championship. Then in March Ken Norton broke the hearts of Ali fans while cracking the jaw of the “Greatest”.

Just like that, in a span of three months the whole top tier of the heavyweight ranks had been seriously shuffled. Ali and Frazier were no longer the kings of the hill. There was a couple of new kids on the block named George and Kenny. Also a grizzled old veteran had returned to town.

To me the one fight that should have been made from this abrupt restructuring of the big boys was Jerry Quarry-vs-George Foreman. The ever popular Irishman had lost to Frazier in 1969 and to Ali in 1970 and 1972. Still Jerry always found a way to stay in the thick of the heavyweight picture. The win over the previously unbeaten Lyle made Jerry a major player again.

This bout would have sold out Madison Square Garden in no time at all. On paper it looked like it would have been a relatively safe defense for George. Add to the fact that George was much bigger and stronger then Jerry. It is hard to believe that this fight was not made. Quarry pleaded for a shot at George and he gave the impression that he was very confident that he could whip Foreman. It was rumored that Jerry had once handled a then young George in a sparring session.

To the surprise of many the Foreman camp semed to be uninterested in a lucrative bout with Quarry. Frazier was still beat up and Ali had to mend his jaw and then his reputation in a return with Norton. Lyle was eliminated so Jerry seemed to be the the logical choice. Instead George would meet and defeat Joe “King” Roman in his only other 1973 appearance.

Later in 1973 Ali would win a narrow decision over Norton. Quarry would close out 1973 by halting the feared Earnie Shavers in one round.
In January of 1974 Ali and Frazier would finally meet again with Ali taking the verdict. In March, Foreman would turn back the challenge of Ken Norton within two rounds. Quarry was on the outside looking in as Foreman and Ali announced they were meetng each other later that year in Africa.

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A FIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE; QUARRY VS. FOREMAN

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