Jerry Quarry vs. Oscar Bonavena

I could see this fight either being very close or a clear decision for Bonavena. I think Bonavena is totally underrated and a head to head nightmare. These guys are two of my favorite fighters btw. The reason this match is difficult to pick is because while Quarry was a great counterpuncher off the ropes Bonavena was so erratic and had such a weird rhythm I think it would have been a mistake for Quarry to fight off the ropes and would have played into Bonavena's hands. Oscar would have made it an ugly fight and at Quarry's best he was a headcase. I think Bonavena gets to him, frustrates him, and makes him to try to get into a shooting match. The more I think about it the more I think its a bad matchup up for Quarry who was great head to head against certain styles and certain fighters but Bonavena wouldnt have been one of them.

 

I see where you're coming from, Bonavena threw so many unorthodox shots he must have been a nightmare to time.

 

I picked Quarry, but giving it a second thought I'm really not too sure. Oscar was a nasty fighter from a lot of different standpoints. He could take a lot of punishment, hit you with hard and awkward shots, and was a ***** to try and keep off you. Jerry also had the tendency to get cut and decked frequently. Might have been a hard night's work and if Quarry wasn't on his game, might end up losing.

 

:bbb Anybody with two left feet, and comes to Jerry is in for either a long (Ron Lyle) or short (Earnie Shavers) evening!
Its not Jerry's fault they ever fought, Bonavena pulled out of a bout with Quarry in 1970, stating he was after the Title. And again May 1973 when MSG NY Was getting desperate to Match Jerry up with another ranked heavyweight. Oscar pulled out of that fight again.

That time he said from Atlantic City that he needed more time to train, and all Fairness to Oscar he probably did need more time to train, these guys were gladiators!

 

I like Oscar ...

 

Quarry by KO. Jerry was more durable, could take a punch, could box and hit a bit harder than Oscar.

 

I don't think it's too far fetched to say that Oscar could have beaten Jerry....Ringo was as strong, if not stronger than Chuvalo,...in a boxing sense..and he was a much better puncher than George. Oscar didn't cut or get puffed up like Chuvalo and in his awkward, clumsy way, was far CLEVERER than the Canadian. This fight with Bonavena would be a very hard ordeal for Quarry, though he would have had his moments, of course. I think you could use the comparison between Jerry and Oscar and how they dealt with two of their common opponents, Chuvalo and Frazier. Oscar did much better vs these two than did Jerry. Oscar wouldn't have been facing a sharp-shooter like Ellis, and he would be so unpredictable, firing punches from all different angles, and he would have used that strength and durability of his very effectively.

 

No tommythe duke,..not really. Oscar was a deceptively good boxer, the way he just schlepped along with whatever was working for him. See the fight of Oscar's with Chuvalo...he almost looked like a Willie Pep ..and he won the decision, without the mental lapse of Jerry's.

 

Jerry beats anyone with 2 left feet that come to him, Bonavena was tailor made for Quarry and Oscar knew it, whats this he did better than Jerry against Chuvalo??? no he didn't ! Watch the bouts, forget that crazy ending, Jerry knocked Floyd Patterson down 4 times, when Patterson knocked Jerry down, even Floyd stated it was a "slip" Cost Quarry 2 wins over Floyd, talk about after your prime, Patterson beat bonavena 1972, Jerry's 8-6-1 (4)knockouts vs top ten, Bonavena 4-7-1 with no knockouts, and some very dubious wins !! Wise up NOOKIE!! Jerry beats Bonavena 10-2, Would not surprise me a bit he ko'd him !! There was more than one reason besides money for Oscar to pull out of at least 2 bouts with Quarry, 1970-73

 

they both hit the deck 7 times in their career

 

Quarry's not KO'ing Bonavena. Oscar was teak tough and the only time he was ever stopped was when Ali landed a bolt from the blue in the 15th round. I think Quarry would win because he was a better boxer and durable and hard hitting enough to stand up to whatever Oscar throws at him. No stoppage in this one unless Quarry gets cut.

 

True. But three of Oscar's knockdowns came in the 15th round of a very hard fight against Muhammad Ali and was mainly due to exhaustion. Quarry was knocked down and counted out against George chuvalo who Oscar beat. He was also frequently decked early.

 

decked 7 times in a 66 fight career is not frequently by any means, Jerry was 3-2-1 w/3 knockouts when he was knocked down. And Patterson, come on guys ,it was not even a knockdown, Jerry was slipping to the canvas from his own punch, and Patterson landed a weak punch on Quarry's way down!!!
Quarry had an iron chin, Joe Frazier hit the canvas 11 in 37 bouts, Bonavena never knocked out anybody in the top ten. Jerry was beating the hell outta George, he looked to have been in a car wreck !! Oscar's decision could have went either way. MSG said winner was Chuvalo!

 

Quarry assuming he doesn't get squirrely.