They are about the same size.....but Quarry probably had better all around skills. Could Quarry have k.o.ed Ingo if given the chance and fighting with prime skills.
I think Quarry had the punching power and chin to deter Ingo's but there were 2 versions of Jerry the young and the seasoned, the seasoned version would stop INGO the younger version may struggle
It mystifies me that Quarry has such a cult reputation as being some kind of underappreciated genius ring genral. Yes, he did have sound skills, but to be blunt his style has always struck my eyes as being pretty basic and not especially imaginative. But my judgement may be compromised. I'll admit that I've never really been a fan of Quarry. Reading old back issues of Ring Magazine I inherited from my uncle it seems clear to me that Quarry was a modest contender at best who used his 'white hype' mantle to gain a lot more fame, money, and prestige than his abilities warranted. That isn't bad, its just good business. What I really dislike is that Quarry had an excuse ready made for every loss: * He didn't take Machen seriously * His back hurt against Ellis * He had a fight with his wife which distracted him before the first Frazier fight * He couldn't hear the referee against Chuvalo. The crowd was cheering too loud, the kayo doesn't count! * He suffered an unlucky cut against Ali. WOULD HAVE KAYOED ALI THE NEXT ROUND IF NOT FOR THE CUT! * Lost to Ali the other time because his brother lost to Bob Foster. If his brother had fought an outpointed Yaqui Lopez instead Jerry would have kayoed Ali in the second round. * Didn't train hard enough for the Frazier rematch. * Trained too hard for Norton. Just how fragile was this guy's psyche? Can you imagine Joe Louis or Barney Ross or Alexis Arguello blaming their losses on trivial nonsense like this? I realize I've rambled off topic. I'm just saying that I can't think of anothe fighter who lost all of his most important fights in such violent, noncompetitive fashion and yet still enjoys cult status as being an exceptional, underestimated ring genius. That said, I think he has a 60-40 chance of beating Ingo, who was overrated by the press too.
Check out that Swedish documentary on Ingo that got posted up recently....bunch of quality tape on Ingo. Ingo and Patterson were "touch and go" in all 3 fights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svoDOiGDx2U
Young Quarry vs Ingo would have been a counterpunch-fest. I think Jerry was cautious at that time and would have had a chance to crack Ingo's less than sturdy chin. The older Quarry would have stopped Ingo outright...probably early.
I'd always wondered why the infatuation with Quarry myself. Rumor has it George Foreman avoided Quarry on the way up. The question that came to my mind when I heard that is why wouldn't Foreman want a devestating win over yet another outmatched opponent?
I think I'd pick Ingo over any version of Quarry, Ingo was very calculating and cool and Jerry could be hit. Good fight though.
Never heard the excuse for the Machen loss you noted, Quarry always had a hard time with quick/slick fighters. Plus Marciano was there to watch as he was interested in buying Quarry's contract, until he lost that fight. He actually did hurt his back prior to Ellis, but even he never he blew it vs. Ellis and it haunted him even in his latter years. He was never going to beat Frazier nor Ali, as both had his number. And in that Quarry was completely shot going into the second fight with Frazier, as Quarry struggled and was floored by Joe Alexander in the prior fight. His inconsistency is being prepared to fight at certain times (which happened frequently) is what cost him vs Chuvalo. And last but not least, never, ever heard the one about over training for Norton as the word was always he didn't train for Norton. That and he was a shell of his former self.
The story on Foreman and Quarry was that early in George's pro career they sparred. During sparring Foreman started opening up on Quarry, pissing Jerry off, whereas Quarry commenced to slapping George around pretty severely. Nobody had ever done that to George before and it effected George's psyche in dealing with Jerry. Or so the story goes.
i think a prime George Foreman would have been too much for Quarry,despite Foreman's apparent respect for him.As for Johansson, I think Quarry was better than the guys that Ingo was able to beat. The younger Quarry was a different fight, both in style as well as physique from the mature Jerry. He was, in the late 60's (think vs Spencer and Mathis) and the very early 70's, a sneaky, vindictive counterpuncher with fast hands..bot the kind that would have played into Ingo's own counterpunching strategy that he used so well vs Patterson the first time. I think Jerry would have gotten to him first...and Ingo's chin wasn't as good as Jerry's. I'd put Ingo's chin below Patterson's in fact...and Jerry was able to put the more elusive, resourceful Patterson down 4 times...i think he would have done the same vs Johansson...as even Brian London was able to do.
