Muhammad Ali vs Jerry Quarry I

Yeah, Quarry was a good pick for a comeback opponent. A big name made to order for Ali... and he was white!

 

Yes,Muhammad certainly hit the ground running with his comeback. Apart from Joe Frazier,himself,Quarry was probably the toughest fight for Ali out there at the time. No soft Pete McNeeley types for The Greatest. If it had n't been for Quarry's cut,it could well have gone the distance,at this point. Muhammad was a lot sharper,obviously,for the second go with Jerry two years later.

 

Agree 100%. Shame the Ali lovers on here don't view it so dispassionately.

 

Probably because its not true.

 

I thought Ali showed good speed. But his sharpness in timing was no where near where it needed to be. I thought he looked way more uncomfortable and awkward upon the little pressure Quarry brought, even though he managed distance and was beating Quarry... he still got hit or looked way more ungraceful than ever before. His feet to me seemed heavier, even if he tried to move with all the same guile. Who knows what the cut would've shown, but when Ali faced a more pressuring awkward fighter in Bonavena we learn his timing was no where near where it needed to be. He looked his worse ever and as Lyle points out people where "Getting to Ali." His reflexes weren't a life line anymore, especially without the needed sharpness.

If anyone can honestly watch the Folley fight and then Quarry fight and honestly think Ali looks like he's retained 90% of what he had (Not in speed, but in timing, sharpness, EVERYTHING) than I'm blown away.

 

Because he was at his best, or nearest to his best. I'm not sure about your claim, at least in clean shots. Either way one is a 7 round fight versus a 3 round fight. Ali was so damn good he was basically playing and treating Folley like a sparring session. Huge contrast between the Folley and Quarry fight.