Jerry Quarry vs Anthony Joshua

I like Quarry as a boxer, but Joshua would be too big and too strong and probably would not succumb to the pressure, I think the fight would be similar to the fight against Povetkin.

 

Tell me the best fighter in his prime that Joshua has beaten ?

And I already brought up about the size but let me remind you an obese 6'1 fighter took Joshua's soul.

 

Disagree both Lyle and Shavers would knock out Joshua

 

I'm tempted to say Joshua is too big, but Jerry was just so extremely successful against monstrous punchers in Shavers, Lyle, and Forest. Foreman's team, when he was younger, wasn't too keen on matching him up against the giant slayer Quarry either, at the very least because he probably wouldn't look good even in beating him.

Quarry is and was a beauty to watch when he was in the zone. Lethal, composed, two fisted counterpuncher, who actually had power at heavy.

Actually, scratch all that. I reckon Joshua walks into left hooks and doesn't hold up. Quarry poses all the counterpunching dangers Andy Ruiz does and (much) more, except he could move extremely well, was physically fit, and could handle himself inside, even against the likes of Lyle.

 

The way Quarry dealt with Lyle,Shavers, and Mac Foster forces me to give him a decent shout here.

 

Both Lyle and Shavers punch harder than Wlad

 

When he was younger does not refer to Foreman's pre-retirement career. It refers to the years '69 to '72, before the Sunshine Showdown, when Foreman was being steered towards the title shot with numerous impressive one round knockouts and occassional recognizable name like Chuvalo, Peralta, or Kirkman. At the time, Quarry was a far more experienced and trained fighter, coming from a fighting family, and being more of a 60's slash 70's guy, rather than purely 70's fighter. The year Foreman made his debiut, Jerry already shared the ring with Machen, Patterson, Ellis, Frazier, Mathis, and Chuvalo. Stylistically, it was never in Saddler's interest to put George with a man who is an elite, slippery counterpuncher. Big George would get through, but not in a pretty style I reckon.

Comparing Ruiz's and Quarry's weight might not be, I reckon, a very productive line of thought, or at least not direct enough. Real question is if:
a) Quarry hits comparably hard enough to replicate how Ruiz hurt Joshua.
b) Quarry is durable enough to withstand roughing up and shots of Joshua.

To which I say: yes, more or less.*

Quarry was known as a hard, though not murderous puncher, and was due to the nature of his style and amateur pedigree a very precise and composed hitter, comfortable going into the ring with the likes of Shavers, Lyle, and Foster (behemoth punchers) and share the ring with Ellis, Frazier, and Patterson, all of whom cracked hard. Whatever difference in power and durability there is between him and Ruiz, he definitely makes up for in skill variety (body punching, inside game), precision, mobility (had fast feet; could box in a tight circle and matador the centreline) splendid head movement, and 15 rounds of active fighting worth of conditioning. Our era would likely see him go in heavier to adjust to the twelve rounds.

Could Joshua launch nukes from a far, hook to the body upon entry and clinch or control game as fast as possible to earn a decision? Could he open a cut on the Bellflower Bleeder and get a TKO? Yes, I think he could, but if there was anybody in the 70's who could make the punchers looks silly, it was Jerry.

*Both questions are related to weight, though not necessarily: both Parker and Ruiz can't approach Gassiev/Wilder/Ajagba range of punching power despite bringing in 20lbs+. Jerry is even lighter than the guys I mentioned, but my point is, the perceiveable results of the punches are more important than the weight, since punching power is linked to many elusive factors like bone structure, leverage, athelticism, torque, precision etc. *

 

Quarry was the much smarter and more talented fighter. But in all honesty, I don’t think he can take too many shots from Joshua and nor is it very realistic to think that Jerry would blast Anthony out early like he did Shavers or box all night long without ever getting hit. Quarry was awesome but it’s not like he had Muhammad Ali’s boxing ability combined with George Chuvalo’s chin.

 

I think Quarry is a step above Joshua- Even with the size differential, he is strong enough to hurt him, and strong enough to take his punches without being in fear of a knockout, keep in mind that he didn't get floored by Lyle. He'll rush in on AJ and through a couple of tough rounds for both men, The Bellflower Bomber will score a TKO around the fifth or sixth.