Which is why I mentioned Lyle in my comment. Quarry decisioned a 19 fight Lyle. Foreman KO'd a matured 35 fight Lyle who had, since Quarry, met a bunch of guys on the next level. Not to take anything from Quarry but simply not the same accomplishments. In the end Quarry never beat anyone of Foreman's significance or level of accomplishment. Foreman dusted many who were as good or better than Quarry. At that point, styles cease to make fights and quality makes fights.
Really? So why did a small light heavyweight named Jimmy Young push him all over the ring? Foreman knew Quarry had his number and that's why he ducked him.
Know the true history. Foreman was a slugger which suited Quarry's style. Ali, Fraizer, and Norton are not sluggers.
Different Foreman fighting a different style. Quarry did not have the defense of jimmy Young. Different fighter with different styles.
He might very well have steered clear of him.. But I'd rather see a reputable source than old memories reflecting on News media sensationalism. In either case it makes no difference. George Foreman fought the men who mattered to seal his legacy, i.e, Ali, Frazier, Norton.. Those were the three big cats during his run as champion and incidentally three men who went a combined 5-0 against Quarry.
I think this came about while Gil Clancy was training Foreman, late in his first career. He had also handled Quarry and I think that is why he didn't want them to fight. That is my recollection and it could be in error, but I don't think so.
I always felt that Jerry Quarry was a big threat to George Foreman because of styles. Quarry had a solid set of whiskers and could hit with either hand, he was not particularly fast but quicker than guys like Lyle,Shavers,Mac Foster ( who Quarry dominated) .Buster Mathis,Thad Spencer and others who were possibly quicker than Foreman. Big George was a better puncher than Lyle but this could be a mute point because Quarry had a rugged chin and better stamina than Foreman....this would be a risky fight for Foreman and his people knew it and the Foreman - Lyle fight confirmed that. I always felt Vlad's people fighting a solid chinned guy like Ross Purity over 12 rounds was a stupid decision because you were not stopping Ross and Vlad never fought that far. I think Foreman was better than Lyle,Shavers and Foster but Quarry was the guy that could bring out his weaknesses. Good strategy by the Foreman people not fighting Quarry and this fight would have been good money for both men and an action fight
Shavers wilted when you could survive and laid the 'wood' on him. No one knocks George out (Lyle? Stupid and brain-dead after Zaire)...and still almost killed Ron.
...........and Frazier KOd Quarry, so did Norton. ..........Foreman KOd Frazier, and also Norton. ..........and Foreman beat Lyle more convincingly than Quarry did.
No Mongoose, I want them brought up! Shavers: I still say a bit of an anamoly as to how the fight ended. Earnie, despite his impressive record, hadn't really beaten ANY legitimate contender at that point (and had gotten KO'd by Stander) Jerry, with his iron jaw, may well have beaten Earnie that day but not in the first round. Foster: again, a BIG banger but had feasted on has-beens to that point and Jerry was THE first legitimate contender he had fought at that point. Spencer: ??? How some boxing 'pundits' had him the favorite going into the 67 elimination tourney boggles my mind. Give me a Thad 'quality' win prior to the tourney. And, as I said, this wannabe went 0-7-1 after the Quarry fight. Foreman would have had Quarry for lunch...
I have always wondered how the same Quarry would have fared against the Shavers that challenged Larry for the title?