Is this one of Muhammad Ali's most underrated performances. How can anybody be that sharp after a three year lay off? His speed often looks as impressive here as it ever did pre-exile. Watch the clinic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9VgeLIdADo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8a-6NrB6s&feature=related
it's not just how good he looked but how good he looked against an incredible, talented and durable fighter in quarry
Its amazing how much different Ali looked in his next bout against Bonnavena. I've always thought the last of the "best" Ali had in the sixties was seen in the comebacking fight against Jerry. That level of Ali's speed and sharpness we didn't see again.
Ali was in great shape and sharp for Quarry in '70........... Quarry was made-to-order like a Pizza from Pizza Hut....... Ali never missed a beat against Quarry boy.......... thumbsup:rasta:good MR.BILL
The answer was he did not. He was very lucky Quarry was cut so bad so early or it would have been a much diferent night. Ali had a flashy first round but never hurt Quarry. By the third Jerry was very much in the fight and Ali was getting tired. If the cut does not stop it early it become a much tougher fight ..
any fighter can be sharp for the first few rounds. it's later in the fight when the lack of conditioning/fights catches up which didn't happen v quarry but did against bonavena. and timing is found out in lack of fights v a fast moving head target like a frazier.
One of Ali's finest. He completely outclassed and humiliated Quarry who was a top-ranked contender for years.
He looked very good for the duration of the fight, but said that he started to tire badly in the third and didn't know what would have happened if not for the cut. His timing and reflexes looker very sharp, though. He looked bad against Bonavena, but that might be because of Bonavena's awkwardness. In FOTC I think he did some of the finest punching he ever did early in the fight, but once again his legs and stamina showed not to be quite what they once had been. I would say that Ali's reflexes and timing stayed at an extremely high level for a surprisingly long time. Just look at the boxing lesson he gave Foreman. After Manilla even that part started taking a sharp turn downwards, though.
I think he might have realized after the Quarry bout he could not maintain the consistent energy level he needed to fight his previous style and made some slight changes.
Exactly. I take other peoples points on board. Had the fight lasted the full distance, Ali would have gotten visibly tired, losing his sharpness, and perhaps looking as bad as he did next time out. That said, for those three rounds he completely outclassed a top contender despite a three and a half year lay off. I disagree that Ali never hurt him. 3.19 of the last round, a ridiculously fast one two lands flush on a incoming Jerry. He winces, and tracks back into the ropes. Ali goes after him for a minute. I think he was hurt.
:verysad Quarry was outclassed for the duration of the whole fight. He maybe landed 4 solid punches at best in those three rounds. Ali landed his jab at will, his right hand was working, and the sharp hooks on a crouching Jerry did enough to always keep him off balance. A great performance considering the circumstances. Makes you wonder why Jerry would want a rematch.