Ken Norton vs. Jerry Quarry

This matchup is a prime example of why you cannot judge what happens in sparring with what would happen in a real match. Quarry is said to have kayoed Norton in a gym fight. They had a rivalry about who was really the best HW in the state of California. Norton gained experience early on by sparring with the best: Ali, Frazier, Quarry. I feel like Quarry had good power but not huge power like Foreman or Shavers. He was a good boxer but not a great one like Ali or Holmes. Get the picture now? Norton still would have beaten Quarry anytime they fought IMO. Conversely, based on styles Cooney would have even beaten a prime Norton. Gerry's power was frightening.

 

Unfortunately for Quarry, Norton was not afraid of him.

Norton fights his best and wins.

 

I think its a slugfest that Norton gets the best of.
Norton gets a decision.
If you have Foreman, Shavers or Cooney power you kill Norton but if you cant back him up you are in a world of hurt.
Quarry is slightly outgunned but not by much in my O:good

 

Norton vs Quarry was a good match. Quarry was " on " and did some fine work in this match. The key here is Norton was not hurt by Quarry punches, so we have to assume he'd mark Quarry up and win the same way.

Did Quarry hit any harder than Ali or Holmes? Not really, and neither Ali nor Holmes floored Norton. If you pick Quarry here, you have to assume he wins via TKO.

 

I would likely favor Norton to win every time, but I think a peak Quarry could have given him a better fight. By the time these two met in 1975, Quarry's lifestyle had sent him down a bad road, where he was using drugs and partying regularly. He had also taken quite a few beatings by that point. A 1973 version as opposed to a 1975 rendering of Quarry could have given Norton some problems, but Ken still prevails.

 

The real story behind this fight is that Norton believed Quarry to be a racist and Kenny was absolutely brutal this night.

 

I too see Jerry as not hitting hard enough to take Norton out;
tho a PvP would be a lot more interesting.
Granted, Jerry battle-worn and past prime but have you ever
seen a Norton bout where he landed such a high % of punches?

 

Norton looked like a real world beater vs Ron Stander. He thrashed Stander and was more impressive than Frazier was vs the same guy.

 

This has indeed been documented. Norton once said that he believed Quarry was not crazy about black people. Quarry, of course, refuted this vigorously. Norton showed tinges of racism himself. I recall that before facing Gerry Cooney on May 11, 1981 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Norton made a remark that was racist. He said that he tended to fare well against caucasian fighters especially in this building (Madison Square Garden). He had beaten Jerry Quarry and Duane Bobbick in the garden before. So Norton had no right to call Quarry a racist.

 

sixties version of Quarry has a chance to surprise Norton early. if Norton goes first few rounds without getting hurt, he would wear Quarry down.

 

I will go against the grain and pick Quarry here.

I see nothing in Nortons prime fights to suggest that he would match up well with a fighter like Quarry. Quarry was a good finisher and could be verry versatile in his aproach.

I like his chances of lowering the boom on Norton.

 

Jerry in his prime hit harder than Ali and Holmes, half his knockouts were for the full count, he knocked out Norton sparring with 12 oz training gloves with one shot before he hit the ground, And regularely beat on Ken.
there primes did not coincide! even thou they were the same age.

 

IMO Jerry Quarry looks good in this video. He weighed 193 and was not quite 22 years old, his conditioning and movement looked better than I remember seeing later in his career. If this version fought Norton, who knows? Maybe he could out quick Norton and he might stun or hurt Norton with quick punches. I don't know how good Miteff was at this point, maybe he made Quarry look better than he was? Quarry looked slower and sluggish when he gained weight but a lot of that probably was because it wasn't good weight, it was the result of his out of the ring lifestyle.

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Eh, it depends upon the Spirit behind the comment.
If he was just reporting the facts, & being tpongue in cheek, that may not betray any racism.
Hell Cobb said worse & nobody thought he was a racist-he was a joker who acted like it was a Friar's club roast in one public forum, & allegedly turned to the referee when getting a one-sided beat down against Holmes & said "You're white, help me"!

I pick Norton also.
I never thought of him as hitting harder than Ali & Holmes, is that the case, or he just torched lesser competition?
Regardless, I do not think Quarry has the special firepower to intimidate or stop Norton.
Who was a great counter-puncher himself, bigger & a better technical boxer overall.