Couple of tune ups but within a year he was fighting tough as nails, ATG smokin joe who had been active the whole time
Ali was still very good, slightly past prime perhaps but beating quary and bonavera straight out of exile was pretty good, fotc is one of my favourite fights, I dont like the thrilla in manilla, it makes me sad to view it after watching the fotc and knowing both guys' career. After that fight you would just wish they called it a draw somehow and theyboth retired on the spot.
One thing I am quite certain of is that Quarry and Bonavena were not tune-up-level fighters of the time. Those were both real fights against very good heavyweight names. And they represented about 17, 18 rounds of activity within less than a year of Frazier. It's not like he fought two tomato cans at a round a piece and was still rusty as hell. He was as ready as he was going to get at that stage for Joe Frazier.
Quarry in October, Oscar in December, Frazier in March. That is pretty badass for a guy coming a 3 1/2 year layoff
Jerry Quarry was a great fighter. Would be champ today. Ali beat him and then G'd his way to Frazier and gave us a classic but Joe won. Frazier and Ali both OG.
