Just Rewatched Quarry-Norton

Quarry took the fight on short notice, was shot, had been parting it up in Hawaii doing booze and cocaine, and still managed to rock Norton. Its weird how much credit Norton gets for this win. Quarry looked terrible against Scrap Iron Johnson in his previous fight, a guy he had stopped in two rounds nearly 9 years earlier when Johnson was in his prime.

 

As already mentioned, Jerry Quarry had gone down hill by 1975. But while I believe the Quarry of a few years earlier was much better I’d probably still favor Ken Norton to win. I don’t like Quarry’s style against Ken and don’t feel had the right tools to beat him

 

He was shot after the second Frazier fight.

 

Yep, Jerry was def. shot by then but he still had some moments and did appear to wobble Ken at one point - with the left hook IIRC.

The ultimate beat down is hard to watch - no man should take that degree of punishment.

 

Just rewatched and I agree. He was A LOT worse than I remember. I was very surprised to see he was still in his 20s. I wouldn't have second guessed anyone who said he was in his 40s.

 

I haven't watched it in awhile but other than that great left hook which sent Norton into the ropes his punches lacked steam, I think in the 4th round he was throwing lots of punches and Norton was taking them without much effect though.

 

In addition to all the above, Quarry had a bad back and was on drugs, both prescribed and street. This was far away from Quarry's prime. His decline was precipitous after 1972.

 

I liked both fighters. I never gave Ken alot of credit for this fight because Quarry was absolutely shot to peices in my book. Interesting that Ken wanted nothing to do with an irate Quarry later that evening after running his mouth.

 

Probably because Quarry knocked him in out cole in sparring several years earlier.

 

What's the story there? I haven't heard that one. I bought Quarry's book about 15 years ago and still haven't read it. I need to dig it out.

 

Norton hit on Jerry's ex (first wife), who of course told Jerry, who of course blew his top, confronting Norton in the parking lot, where Norton declined Jerry's invitation.

But I don't think was immediately after their boxing match, I think this happened a year or so later, as I think it happened in a casino parling lot.

Ronny Rains would know, he posts on this site, as I think he ran around with Jerry's brother-in-law or something like that.

 

At that time Jerry was the world's oldest 29 year old. Jerry looked horrible in his tune up fight for Frazier, getting dropped in the 1st round.

 

Thanks for that. Great tale!

 

Quarry went the distance with Scrap Iron Johnson in 1970, as well, when Quarry was the top heavyweight contender and only 24.

So, I think the stoppage win by Quarry in fight one was a bit of a one-off.

Like Jesse Ferguson (who was a lot better than Scrap Iron but I'll use him as an example because he fought everyone), sometimes, Johnson would go the distance with hardened top guys. Sometimes, he'd get bowled over rather easily. It kinda depended on his mindset that day.

Also, everyone drank and did drugs in the 1970s (except Ali). Ken Norton, included.