[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol6kyi42PgI[/ame] An uncharacterically aggressive and wild Quarry gets put on the canvas by clubfighter Joe Alexander in the first round, and gets up to deal out a beatdown.
I was there in the Nassau C. Sparks came from Jerry's ass when he hit the canvas and we heard thump but Jerry got right back into the mix and took Joe out when he found his range. Jerry was no Duane Bobick and Alexander could hit but Jerry had good whiskers but was slipping fast after the Shavers and Lyle and Foster wins. Quarry was already toast when he fought Norton or the result would have differed. In retrospect it was an exciting fight, both men were capable..Quarry was not at his best and had some scary moments. Alexander could hit and had fast hands but Jerry pulled it out.
That Alexander was a prospect of sorts back then. One of those guys on the periphery and just never did go up another level. Funny how that seems to happen with those heavyweights. But while not a shining star, folks had taken notice of the guy. Can you recall what the catalyst was for the next stage of that Alexander career? I can't.
The last time somebody had decked Jerry during bell to bell action was in the Chuvalo disaster five years earlier. As badly stunned as he was, this time he had the presence of mind to not risk a full count. He could have paid dearly for this, but the fact of a mandatory eight count followed by the round ending bell cursed Alexander, and "saved" Jerry for the critical rematch with Frazier. (Max Schmeling was ruined by the absence of a mandatory eight count in the Louis rematch, not that he had a chance anyway. But in those days, under that rule set, waiting on the deck to obtain the benefit of a full count served a valuable purpose, one Schmeling foolishly failed to utilize.) For anybody who might think JQ wasn't dangerous when hurt, this is Exhibit A to the contrary. We need more men refereeing fights today like Mercante. Today's fey, pink panty wearing queerbeats would have stopped Jerry upon that knockdown.
For a Moment There Joe must of felt he was going to be crowned the new "Alexander The Great" Alas for him he was stalking the wrong Quarry for that !
