Both fought Chuvalo with differing results,how do these two shape up over fifteen rounds? I'm going for Jerry,by close dec.
Yeah this is a can't-miss high action fight. If Quarry stays smart, he keeps a combination counterpunches and movement to win a decision.
Man, this is a difficult one to call. I usually can manufacture some type of an opinion that favors one fighter over another, but these guys' resumes and abilities balance out with each other pretty well even though they fought entirely different styles. But I will try to come up with a favorite in a fight that I am sure would be interesting and which could go either way. Bonavena did better against Ali, Frazier, and Chuvalo. They both lost to Ellis in comparable fashion. Quarry had advantages against with his wins over Patterson and Lyle. Quarry's best win may have been against Shavers, but Jerry never would have caught Bonavena cold like he did Earnie. I think a particularly important point in Bonavena's favor is that Quarry was kayoed six times and Bonavena only once, and even then it took Ali a full 15. Oscar went the distance with Frazier twice, dropping him twice and arguably deserving the decision in their first fight and going the full 15 in their second. IMO, Oscar was stronger, tougher and I think his awkward style would bother Jerry. Strong guys like Frazier and Chuvalo gave him trouble. So even though I didn't have an opinion when I started writing this post, I think Oscar would take it. He was the Gene Fullmer of his era, but without the intentionally dirty tactics. I expect I'll be in the minority on this one. Jerry was a more stylish fighter, but in some of his most important fights, he made major strategic errors such as in being careless against Chuvalo, not being aggressive enough against Ellis, and being too aggressive against Frazier when he should have boxed him in their second fight. Against Bonavena, he would have to keep his composure. Oscar, on the other hand, only knew one way to fight. He wouldn't try to out-think Quarry. He would just keep coming, and I think eventually overpower and frustrate Jerry.
I think it would be a rough fight. Bonevena's awkwardness is always a factor. Quarry's hands were very quick and he is actually the better puncher of the two. If Jimmy Ellis put Bonavena down I''m sure Quarry could as well with his counter counterpunching. Quarry did cut and to me that is the only realistic chance he has here.
I have opined many times on this subject...in this forum...and have used this point in reference to Bonavena, but it needs to be elaborated on some...for instance, Oscar DID know another way to fight, just like Gene Fullmer did....namely, that back pedalling, deceptively crudely clever, or cleverly crude manner of "boxing" that Gene used vs Carmen Basilio (both times), Dlck Tiger (their draw), and Florentino Fernandez. Matter of fact, it was the way that Ringo fought Chuvalo back in 1966. It was quite a shock to the boxing cognescenti to have OB win a decision in the manner, using clever movement (instead of the rock 'em/sock 'em cave man battle that they were expecting), making the straight ahead, simplisticly crude Chuvalo look like both his feet were in cement filled buckets. Heck, Oscar looked like Willie Pep at times.
Agreed, but I don't believe he would have chosen to fight Quarry this way. Unlike Jerry, Ringo always seemed to choose the style which would give him the best chance of winning!
This content is protected Quarry may dance on him like he does here to Spencer. Your right that Quarry was a bit flaky and didn't have the best luck.
Ellis vs Quarry and Ellis vs Bonavena were not comparable. Ellis trounced prime Oscar, decking him twice. Quarry, with his quicker, more accurate and more effective punches, would outpoint the Argentinian.
I agree. He might just do that. I admit to trolling a bit on my post to this thread. But Bonavena might disconcert and over-power Oscar, too!