I kinda feel like Ali doesn't get as much props as he should for his 2 performances coming off the lay off. He was out of the ring for 3 and a half years, but he made quick work of Quarry who was a worthy contedner and was the first man and only man to stop the tough Oscar Bonavena. Sure, he didn't look as good as he did in 1967, but still showed that his championship claim may have some substance. What do you guys think?
Agreed. He looked pretty good. Especially against Quarry, where it was obvious that Quarry was thoroughly outclassed right from the first round. thing is, previously Ali was looking inhumanly amazing, as in “there’s no way anybody beats this guy”. So looking pretty good, or even great, was a big downgrade. Because in that era, Joe Frazier was looking pretty damn great too.
I definitely agree with you. Especially against Bonavena who was a tough....tough hombre! Oscar may not have been a worldbeater but he'd always give the world's best a fight and a half.
Ali did miss punches and while it show his lack of training,he soon showed that his brain didn't lose memory so quickly.
Ellis, Quarry and Bonavena were the top contenders at heavyweight, along with Frazier, when Ali was out of the picture. At the end of September 1970 (just before Ali fought Quarry), the WBA ranked them: #1 Bonavena, #2 Ellis and Quarry #3. Ali stopped all three. You can't do much more than fight the best three contenders and the World Champ in just a nine-month span. It was a truly amazing run.
Thinking about it, I never realized how impressive it was to beat Quarry off a 3-year layoff, especially in the fashion he did. The difference in style in the Bonavena and Quarry fights is honestly crazy; it's like he accepted taking brutal shots instead of focusing on returning what he had in 67'
