Sorry I'm not much of a historian, but was this considered an upset at the time? This content is protected
I believe it was. Quarry was considered to be going downhill by this time (despite just having UD'd Ron Lyle), and Shavers had just KO'd Ellis in 1. I think most people were expecting a Shavers knockout.
It was because folks typically overrate punchers like Shavers as opposed to highly skilled counterpunchers like Quarry. Shavers was flat out wrecking guys and Quarry was viewed as a heavyweight gatekeeper at the time.
Not just that but Shavers only win of any note was over Ellis who hadnt fought a warm body since getting dominated by Ali two years earlier and who really hadnt beaten a top guy in five years.
While completely true it should also be noted that there were only two fighters that Quarry had fought, in the 70s, that were really even capable of beating him. Ali and Lyle.
Jerry Quarry was a very loose and unreliable stepping stone in the early 70's. Promoters booked him as the fall guy and he mowed them down. Lyle, Shavers, Mac Foster. It was seen by many as an upset because so many in the business spent 4 or 5 years saying, "Is this the night that it all falls apart for Jerry Quarry ?" Many in the media knew he wasn't living well after the breakdown of his first marriage and with most Fighters, yes, the roof would have come in. During this time, Quarry was happier in a fight than anywhere else. Erm... What was the question ? Upset ? Sort of.
And in the UK Jack Bodell! Bodell had just come off his biggest win, beating Joe Bugner for the British and Euro crowns, and was duly matched with Jerry. I suspect many know the story, but pre fight BBC commentator 'arry Carpenter was hyping Bodell's awkwardness and that it would be a challenge for Quarry. Bodell just about survived a minute, getting stopped in sixty four seconds... After the fight Quarry was questioned about Bodell's awkwardness; his response: "Well he kinda' fell awkward!"
Dear old Jack. I loved him to bits but I thought putting him in the same bracket as Lyle, Shavers and even Foster was pushing it a bit.
In 1973 Earnie Shavers was an up an coming heavyweight contender who was giving us a glimpse of what was going to come throughout the rest of the decade. Then on Dec 14 1973, in Madison Square Garden, he was matched with counterpunching Jerry Quarry, who came close to being crowned WBA champion on April 27 1968 in his bout with Jimmy Ellis, only to lose a close decision in 15 rounds. Jerry had done battle with the likes of eventual undisputed champion Smoking Joe Frazier, and former champion Muhammad Ali twice, Jerry was stopped by both greats. Earlier in the year, on Feb 9 1973, Quarry won a unanimous decision over another rising star, Ron Lyle. Shavers too, had some great wins under his belt, knockout wins over former champion Jimmy Ellis and future contender Jimmy Young. Jerry did show that he was the quicker gun, he blasted out Earnie that night in round 1, to show that he was still a contender to be reckoned with.
This was the last fight Quarry looked good in, though body wise he didn't look that healthy, basically had no muscle definition. His next fight was the near disaster with Joe Alexander, where he had to climb off the canvas to win. He looked horrible in the fight. Next fight was the beat down by Frazier, Jerry weighed 197 1/2 but had no muscle definition and no pop on his punches. To make matters worse Frazier looked the best he had since the first Ali fight. Joe beat what little fight Jerry had left in him. Quarry looked like the world's oldest 29 year old. Next fight was against George "Scrap Iron" Johnson, where fights reports stated he pretty much got a gift decision. Next was the Norton debacle. Retirement for a couple of years. The Zanon comeback, retirement again, another comeback for a couple of bucks where he took beatings, winning only with his toughness, until his last fight/lost vs Cranmer. My favorite fighter, with one of the saddest story.
I think Quarry looked good in this one, he was 21 years old, 193 pounds and I would guess he was living clean and training. I don't remember seeing Quarry look better. If he had stayed in this type of condition for his whole career his story might have been different. This content is protected
