Did Jerry Quarry became underrated ?

Hey Ronnie - could you tell me a bit about the Quarry’s issues with Norton? I’ve heard Jerry had a low opinion of Kenny.

 

IT WAS KINDA CRAZY, THEY both trained at Massacye Canyon Inn a place perfect for fighters outside Los Angeles a gym, a golf couse, a stage/dance floor, restaurant and a pool. a ring! I guess they were alright until Kenny came on to his ex-wife Kathy on the dance floor (Jerry also sang there time to time) and both his sister and ex wife Kathy also waitressed there.

All hell broke loose and Jerry rode a motorcycle in the rain to confront Norton, The timeline was about early 1973 I believe and Jerry's divorce was now final, he also would later win custody of his kids. Norton told Quarry that he was no longer married to Kathleen, and GOD DID NOT WANT THEM TO FIGHT! and he took off in a Corvette.

I believe it was before Kenny had defeated Ali or maybe after, Ironically Ken Junior and Quarry's son Jerry lynn swam and played at the place and good friends, Kenny would show up and tell Quarry's son , that his dad was great , meaning fighter I am sure.

Mac Foster among a California who's who of boxing would work out at the gym there, and McArthur would drive from Fresno. The place also had alotta great -COUNTRY LIVING LAND TO RUN MILES.

 

Foreman said he was fighting Norton before Quarry and Shavers stepped into the ring, signed or not.

It might be suss, i'd have to have a good grasp of what shenanigans King had on the go tho. Quarry claimed just after he beat Shavers and just prior to Foreman decimating Norton that he was being excluded from some fights due to the race factor. I mean, was there any truth to this? Can it be counted out at that exact time? It's not like he was saying Foreman/Norton were scared of him. It may not be as simple as dollars and cents.

 

The bigger money with Quarry should just have been such a natural decision that it seems strange it wasn't made.

 

My understanding re a potential Foreman/Quarry bout is that Quarry was well in the picture, following his victory over Lyle, in Feb '73, that Clancy via Brenner made a Million Dollar bid to Sadler, and that Sadler confirmed he had received and would consider the offer around the March or April of '73.

While Norton was being mooted as a potential Foreman opponent - as I am sure a few other names were, at the same time - I don't recall there being any sign of serious negotiations going on at that point between the teams of Foreman and Norton. These would come later in the year and be just short of concluded by December '73.

The impression I have is that, as is the case with most match-making efforts, there are various factors that define the success or failure of negotiations, with many of the problems arising as products of the negotiators themselves. With this having led to Quarry/Shavers being scheduled for December '73 and there having been by then too many delays in the making of a decent fight for Foreman (the Roman bout had been viewed poorly), as well as Foreman's desire to earn, I believe there was an ever-increasing likelihood of Foreman taking the path of least resistance.

Norton did fit the bill and, ultimately, it likely came down to timing, availability and Norton's team being able to cut a deal without too much fuss when Foreman was under pressure to sign for a viable world championship contest.

Just my 2¢... ... ...

 

Well you were doing pretty good there JT until you threw in the "pole axed Quarry" remark, considering Quarry was a shell of himself, grossly out of shape and took the fight on two weeks notice when Bonavena pulled out, the Norton win over Quarry doesn't have much merit, especially in the conversation.

 

Too bad Norton didn't step out of the car, I don't think things would have went well for Kenny. I think this due to Quarry working over future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Ron Yary who hit on Jerry's girl friend when they were in high school. Sure they were way back in high school, but Yary out weighed Jerry by about about fifty pounds and was a really good athlete.

 

One factor could be that a fight with Ali fairly likely lay down the road. They knew that such a fight would mean millions and therefore wanted as little risk as possible while still taking on a top contender after the Roman gimme. So they thought that Norton fit that bill without bringing as much as risk as Quarry. For choosing first Roman and then Norton over Quarry despite the good money he brought must have had a reason behind it.

 

It could be but, in terms of probability, I would see there being only an outlying chance of this having been the case. Norton would have been considered as great a risk as Quarry, if not greater, in my opinion.

Norton had beaten Ali, lost a controversial SD in an immediate rematch and was still very much seen as a top-tier challenger. Quarry was still, at this point, dining out on his surprise win over Lyle. Only when Quarry had demolished Shavers in a round might he have been viewed as a greater risk (and it would still have been debatable) but, by then, the Foreman/Norton bout was in the bag.

Now, in a discussion about who was the more deserving challenger, then Quarry has a case, in my opinion.

 

The win over Lyle plus the difficulties Quarry had given Foreman in sparring years before would be plenty to make it clear he was a risk.

In the end the proof is in the pudding, though: He choose Norton for less money. I actually can't come to think of another case where the less paying challenger was chosen.

 

QUARRY HAD LEGENDATRY street battles, they moved so much the norm did not know who he was . so when he worked over intimadating monsters (at least about half with one punch!) People took notice, Ron Yary and Jerry ended up best of friends FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS . SPENDING TIME AS GUESTS AT EACH OTHERS HOUSES. (I'm Sure Yary never forgot the one-sided beating) Jerry also ran Deacon Jones out of a television show building live in 1969.- not ez feat They said Jerry was so mad at the deac, he looked like an Irish Assasin

 

Is their any truth to Quarry challenging Norton to a street fight after their match? I heard Norton declined.

 

Interesting. This reminds me of a bad HS joke:

Two kids are arguing on who has he baddest dad:
- My dad beats your dad.
- Fool! Your dad is my dad.

 

Yes, Quarry would have been seen as a risk. I've not said otherwise. What I have said is that there was no reason for Quarry to have been considered a greater risk than Norton.

I don't think Foreman had even had his pro debut when the referred to Quarry/Foreman sparring session took place. So, I cannot imagine why some of the rumors stemming from that session would be taken as gospel and considered a motive for a duck. It's a bit of a stretch, IMO.

Less money?

Well, it's worth considering that the Venezuelan government had agreed not to tax the purses of both Foreman and Norton, which would have made their bout the more financially appealing option by far. Any fight with Quarry was going to made by Brenner, take place at The Garden and be subject to the then extortionate New York tax rates.

Ironically, the Venezuelan government reneged on their taxation deal after the Foreman/Norton fight. Even so, after the 'Caracas Caper' was over, Foreman was likely left with more net income in his pocket than he would have by fighting Quarry.

 

I think @My dinner with Conteh has some more information about the purses.

I have no problems with Norton as a challenger as such, but if Foreman went for the smaller purse I'm pretty sure there's a reason and him seeing Quarry as a risk the most likely one.

Foreman has himself said he ducked Quarry, after all.