George Foreman vs Jerry Quarry

Conventional wisdom says no, but y'know, track records ought to mean something. Quarry has a better record against punchers than Foreman has against Quarrys.

 

Based on how well Quarry did against big come-forward hitters, it would stand to reason that he might have beaten Foreman. Problem is, for some reason I’m not sure I see it playing out that way. While Shavers, Lyle, Foster and Mathis were all guys who could punch, the simple fact is, Foreman was better.

 

Here's the rare one where I say a young George loses, but old George wins.

 

On paper, a good argument can be made that Quarry stands a decent chance of emerging the victor. But in addition to being a beast of a puncher, George had a good jab and decent boxing skills as well as a good chin. To win, Quarry would have to establish control from the beginning and maintain it. He tended to wilt when things weren't going his way. It's hard to imagine Jerry controlling the action in the early rounds as this is where George was at his best. If Quarry could get past the early rounds and take George into the late rounds conceivably he could gas Foreman, but stamina was an issue with Quarry too, at least in the early part of his career. All things considered I envision this fight as an early TKO for Foreman, although it would be exciting while it lasted. And it is a match that should have happened!

 

Direct quote from Goerge Foreman's twitter

Jerry Quarry was pretty good at handling Big Punchers; Boxers on the other hand gave him problemsaterson, Ellis and Ali beat him. Shavers,Foster & Spencer,Lyle he beat.He scared me---George Foreman

With that said, I would still favor Foreman personally but as you can see from George's quote, Quarry was not someone e he wanted to fight.

 

Plus his occasional tendency to brawl or fight the wrong fight. Or so the received wisdom goes.

 

Quarry was good at taking out big punchers. I don't blame George.

 

This match up has been doing the rounds for far to long, not buying Foreman " avoiding " " he scared me " " wouldn't want to fight " nonsense, the Foreman of 71/73 was a monster, a truly scary fighter, up until the Ali fight was talked about being invincible, would reign for a decade, no way was he scared of Quarry ( he might have said as much ) but really ! .
As for the match up, seeing it go similar to the Chuvalo contest, ok so I appreciate George was not a counter puncher as Jerry could be sometimes, but both were genuinely tough men, both had very good chins ( Georges was a ATG ) both were strong and didn't lack courage or fortitude that said, I feel Foremen would use the same tried and trusted formula of, pushing his opponent time and again, keeping Jerry on his back foot, in defensive mode, whilst unloading huge roundhouse lefts and rights, and a uppercut that would inflict serious damage, witness Georges cheek after a few rounds, as I have always maintained, very few HWs of any era could have hung with this Foreman, and points as to why I have Ali as my No 1. Just my opinion fellas. stay safe guys,

 

I’m one who doesn’t give Quarry much love. Foreman with a KO. I just can’t allow myself to buy this.

 

i see nothing from Quarry that would make me believe he is physically superior. He wasnt fast, footwork was about average and had no physical advantages

It would probably be like the Chuvalo fight

 

I see Jerry winning a few battles but losing the war.

He’s game enough and would be competitive in stretches, landing some good stuff and giving George trouble, but then comes the big basher whaling away.

About the time it’s becoming apparent that Foreman is too much for Jerry, a nasty cut over Quarry’s eye from George’s jab ends it in round five.

 

Foreman shoves him around and throws uppercuts with both hands when Quarry comes in to do anything. He gets knocked down and/or busted up early from the uppercuts and the ref waves it off within 3 or 4 rounds.

 

Who has Foreman lost to who fought remotely like Quarry?