David Tua's best "Mythical Match-Ups"

I'm honestly baffled that in such a size and style orientated list, you have Jerry Quarry beating Tua. Absolutely ludicrous

 

Styles make fights, Quarry in his prime was a very skilled boxer and was also quite durable, hes the sort of fighter I see prime Tua having difficulty dealing with. I could see Quarry going in and out all night landing his shots then slipping away to the side before Tua could counter also Quarry would use his good footwork to dance away from Tua while Tua's on the attack. I'd expect Tua to connect on a few real solid shots and have his moments but I'd expect Quarry to be able to weather the storm and win most of the rounds on route to a decision victory.

 

I didn't realise we where talking about the Jerry Quarry that had similar stylistic advantage against Chuvalo and executed profoundly

 

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I'm Canadian and a big fan of Chuvalo but if you ask me the scenario that played out on that particular night was a 1-10 sorta outcome I think Quarry out boxes and beats Chuvalo at least 90% of the time especially in his hayday as a matter fact up to that point he was well in control of that bout. In a fight between Quarry and Tua I wouldn't by any means count Tua out but I'd favor Quarry as I said I think his boxing style would be trouble for Tua.

 

I watched the fight recently, an enjoyable to watch. Minus the stoppage and Chuvalo's face being a mess, i think George would have come on slightly stronger in final 3 rounds had it continued. Quarry only kept the fight on the outside for 3 or 4 rounds, the middle rounds where more of a mid range and inside affair. He didn't really utilise his jab and decided to clinch more rather than fending George off with punches. I do agree that Quarry had an element of control, certainly more so than Chuvalo, but he seemed to be taking quite a few clean shots to the head and body throughout, he was however, unquestionably ahead at the time of the stoppage.

For such a good boxer Quarry sure did like to slug it out a lot. Look how he tried to brawl with Frazier. His tendency to get stuck on the ropes is also a worry. If we're talking a well conditioned Tua, like the one that threw 700+ punches against Ibeabuchi, I think he can slow Quarry with a good body attack early and turn it into more of a brawl, boss the clinches, back Quarry up and bomb away when he has him cornered.

I agree Tua's plodding style isn't ideal, but I don't see enough power in Quarry to hold Tua off for 12 rounds. I think it's just asking a lot more of Quarry than Tua in this match up. He doesn't have the slickness of Byrd, the physical attributes of Lewis.

We'll have to agree to disagree here, but I feel Quarry's fairly limited head movement and sometimes non existent jab is why I'd be taking Tua here. Oh and what the hey, I'll add in that he's 25 pounds heavier and the biggest puncher Quarry would have faced

 

You make some very good points. Quarry though being a good boxer did have tendency to stand and trade and I certainly think he would do this at points with Tua. When he does stand and trade I think with his quick hands Quarry would be effective but Tua ultimately would land the more damaging shots in the exchanges forcing Quarry to get back on his feet and box. Quarry did a job on a few devastating punchers in his day his bouts with Lyle and Mac Foster come to mind but one point you made that relates to those match ups neither Lyle or Foster were very active and a prime Tua provided constant activity. But on the other hand I look at some of Tua match ups in his prime most notably the fight vs Maskaev who I think fought Tua the most similar to how Quarry would. Maskaev with decent movement to go along with being active really gave Tua a lot of trouble and I think Quarry would be able to do a much more effective job of this then Maskaev. Either way you look at it, its a very interesting match up. Its always very challenging to compare fighters from two completely different eras. Makes for very interesting debates though:thumbsup