I would lean toward the Lyle win, but all of those fights were good performances by Quarry. Not the most consistent fighter, but definitely one of the ten best during (probably top five) the best heavyweight era ever. Not too bad at all.
I think he effort in the first Frazier fight was quit good. A losing effort but a Barn burner while it lasted. His efforts against Foster and Shavers were good too.
I like Earnie and he could punch but is overated, Earnie was stopped by most of the tougher fighters he fought , Quarry in 1,( I had ringside Lyle in 5, Stander in 5(Ron was a young raw clubfighter) beaten by Stallings, Jimmy Young 2 ( a draw ?) he did KO Norton, I was there when he KO'd a shot Ellis after getting rocked, Cobb, Mercado stopped him. Most of the time if Earnie could not get you he ran out of gas or if the guy took his best he kind of wilted. Ali said he could punch but could he hit as hard as the Cooper left hook or the right hand Jones hit Ali with in the 1st rd or the Joe Frazier hook Ali felt in the 11th and 15th of the 1st fight. He dropped Holmes hard but Holmes got dropped hard by Snipes AND ROCKED BY EVERY GOOD RIGHT HAND PUNCHER..tAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM EARNIE;S POWER BUT how did he do against the top fighters (class)he fought and why did Rondon go the distance with him when Bob Foster stopped Rondon in 2
The Patterson rematch was only a 12-rounder, actually. As for the thread topic, I'll have to think about it a while longer.
I'll take Quarry's win over Shavers to be his best effort........... In truth, Shavers was SUPPOSE to win that fight.... Earnie Shavers had just KO'd Jimmy Ellis and was in line for a title shot at George Foreman, had he beaten Jerry Quarry in late '73.... That KO loss to Quarry really hurt Shavers' career and reputation.... Shavers made a career out of winning and losing important fights....... Peace... MR.BILL:bbb
Quarry most impressive performance to me was over a very good journeyman named Joe Orbillo. Quarry was very fast, and very skilled in this fight. You have to see it to appreciate it. It was probably Quarry best display of skills. Quarry was very erratic. Patterson said he does not know himself. Indeed, Quarry should have boxed when he slugged, and slugged when he boxed. Quarry best win to be is the Lyle win, then the Shavers win.
Yes. Jerry was a talented fighter and deserved everything he received. He was not a "white hope" in the sense that term is often used. He was a legit top contender. I watched many of his fights when they first happened and was pretty surprised at how well he handled Ron Lyle, who was considered a mankiller. Mac Foster was also considered a destroyer of men at the time Jerry beat him. I remember Sports Illustrated in the issue the week before the first fight with Frazier showing (graphically) how Jerry might be able to beat Joe with counterpunches. Of course Jerry would have none of that advice and tried to slug it out with Joe.