Liston vs Quarry in the fall of 1968 - who would have won?

Quarry faced some fearsome guys in Lyle, Foster and Shavers and came out on top emphatically. A depleted, aged Liston wouldn't have been too much for Quarry's craftiness, even at this point of his development. Jerry had sweet footwork, nice angles and decent pop... all enough to derail and old ass Liston.

 

If Jerry couldn't stop a 185 lb. Texas Club-Fighter in late-1968,,,,,,,how would he beat up that 220 lb. scotch-sipping/old man.

 

Your right in that Quarry could handle some powerful fighters. Difference is that none of those other guys had that kind of a vicious jab. We know that Quarry had skin like tissue paper.

Even an old Sonny Liston knew how to box. He wasnt just a bomber.

I wouldnt totally dismiss Quarrry though. He was a talented fighter and he had alot of guts.

 

Liston by KO 8 Quarry.... Liston was still good in 1968, yet aging... Quarry is game early on, but soon cuts, bleeds and gets hammered... Liston still owns a good jab and his power is still intact... Quarry was never as good as Liston was...

MR.BILL:hat

 

Sonny was revived and in good shape at this time, he had a little left in the tank still and Jerry was too green to avoid the jab that would have hammered out at him all night. Sonny did age quickly after this but along with him outpointing Leotis until the ko was Sonny's statement afterwards that he went into the bout ill and drained and it (and Leotis left hook) just caught up with him.

 

Not sure who wins, but I think Quarry was still relatively underdeveloped in 1968. He was decked by an aged patterson, and beaten by an aged Machen fairly close to the time frame proposed. Liston was definitely at the end of his rope by that period, but he still had that punching power and lengthy reach.. its not out of the question that he could have dropped Quarry on one or more occasions, and perhaps even opened up a cut or two.. I'd say its a tossup.

 

In the summer of 1968, Jerry Quarry suffered a Jet-Skiing accident,,,,

He was not available to fight until the end of the year.

Most likely, he would have required a tune-up or two or three before facing
the 'Old Man'.

Still, that 'pole-driver jab' would be the key to the fight. Sonny was still in
good shape, and Jerry still had problems defensively.

I'd say, Sonny would have been a solid 2-1 Favorite.

TRIVIA FUN FACT;
In October 1968, Jerry Quarry was in Hollywood filming an episode for 'I Dream of Jeannie'.
The episode aired on November 18, 1968 'The World's Strongest Man'