I don't believe that Quarry KO'd Norton in sparring

Norton was mimicking Jimmy Ellis for Frazier's upcoming bout with him.

 

Fair play - they’re your opinions, I differ greatly on your interpretation of the Ali 3 and Holmes fights. Tbh, I find it very difficult to see how anyone could see Norton not winning the rubber.

However and anyway, the torn left bicep factor is wildly overdone. The arm was fine come fight time - and Holmes’ hyperactive use of that arm during the fight is the perfect evidence.

While Norton deliberately (and errantly) held back, Holmes won those early rounds virtually via the jab alone. How much better could he have worked that arm? He couldn’t have - that was as good as it gets.

 

Supposedly McCall knocked Tyson down in sparring.

**** happens in sparring.

 

I've been seeing this thread up for a couple of days now and didn't want to even comment on it until I called a buddy of mine who was present for this event. I'm paraphrasing from our discussion on it but this is how it went down:

"This session took place just before Norton's bout with Jose Luis Garcia in 1970. I had already made my pro debut and was supposed to fight on the undercard of Norton-Garcia, but for whatever reason it didn't happen and I ended up fighting my second pro bout at the Olympic a week later. I had been sparring with Antonio Gomez and Centavito Hernandez for their bout and was in the Main Street Gym steadily during this period. I was skipping rope in a full length mirror when I saw in the reflection Norton and Jerry getting into the ring. I simply turned around, continuing my skipping, just to watch. Bill Slayton, Norton's trainer, had worked with Jerry before and put together this session. You never knew with Jerry what kind of a mood he was in or what was going to happen. But on this day I watched Jerry go to the body and then rip to the head and Norton was finished. He was not out cold, as has been reported over the years, but he was down and done for the evening. Bill Slayton immediately jumped in the ring ending matters."

I asked him if it was true that they regularly sparred and he said he heard that but can't corroborate, that the only session he was present for was the KO session. This was from former bantamweight/featherweight Rick Farris, who is now the President of the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame. So let's put this one to bed.

 

It was completely believable as Norton was still a fledgling and not remotely the fighter he was to become. On top of this he got knocked out by Garcia in his next fight and Garcia isn't a patch on Quarry. It's not hard to fathom at all.

 

I should have added great sharing of insight and information Scar.

 

To echo JT, thanks Scar, excellent info.

 

I did exist.

In fact, I was at that session, furiously sucking away on my pacifier which I immediately spat out when Norton went down.

I was upset because I really thought he’d killed Kenny.

 

If true, you could question Quarry for going so hard at a fledging Norton, particularly straight out of the gates. There was animosity between the two men, this might’ve been the catalyst. Makes you wonder how many sparring sessions spawned the “seeking of revenge” scenarios, later realised or not.

Norton complained of white fighters being given greater advantage back in the day - implicating Quarry in that claim.

I think Norton also accused Quarry of direct racism. My knowledge of Quarry (which is only average) tells me that Jerry wasn’t at all racist.

In fact, Quarry came across as a pretty nice, articulate and intelligent guy. Damn shame how he deteriorated in his mid life years.

 

It is largely forgotten that Jerry Quarry was a fine commentator on boxing telecasts. He knew what was taking place in the ring and could articulate what he was seeing very well.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Jerry Quarry routinely beat up his own brother in sparring.
If you are a professional fighter sparring with other professional fighters, conduct yourself accordingly. Some guys will work with a less experienced guy, some won't. He owes you absolutely nothing so defend yourself at all times.

 

When Ken Norton was active, the big punchers in the heavyweight division were George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Gerry Cooney and Jerry Quarry. Norton was stopped in short order by Foreman, Shavers and Cooney. For one reason or another, Norton did not fight Frazier or Lyle. He did stop Quarry, who was on the downside of his career at the time. In other words, Norton' simply could not cope with big punchers and had to be matched carefully.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Totally agree Chuck. Jerry also seemed to have great personal insight on quite a few fighters also - including Earnie Shavers who Jerry beat. Commenting on Shavers fights, Jerry’s knowledge and interest in Shavers came across as closer than just arms length. In fact, during one fight Jerry revealed the lesser known fact that Ernie did lift weights and that it was considered a no no (at least as at that time).