Worst beating Jerry Quarry took

Haven’t watched it in a long time but, IIRC, ref Louis was well guilty of and berated for not stopping the 2nd Frazier fight sooner.

Jerry had an incredible chin but even so, to see his tortured and pained expression during those beat downs is the stuff of nightmares. He literally would’ve have let himself die in the ring if it came down to it.

It’s sad that we can ask “which” beating was the worst - far too many instances of same during Jerry’s career.

 

Quarry took some beatings, some of them might not have been so severe if he was more serious about his training and lifestyle outside the ring. He was already small for a heavyweight and in some fights, his conditioning made him look more like an insurance salesman than a professional athlete. He had heart and tried when he went into the ring, but better preparation would probably have gotten him some more wins and less severe beatings. As the coaches say, "the will to win is useless without the will to prepare."

 

Yeah, Jerry began taking on that “pear” shape relatively early in his career, even as early as 1970 at only age 25 - he def. was a lot more cut in his 60s bouts.

I thought that it might’ve been genetics kicking in to a degree but if his conditioning wasn’t 100%, then that probably explains his less athletic appearance for the most part.

I remember Holmes having to be 100% conditioned, no fat, so as to not give off give off his own “pear” shape look that later kicked in - though Larry still looked fit in many other respects otherwise.

 

the parking lot scene was early 1973 and not MSG bout in 1975, Jerry rode his motorcycle in the rain to confront Norton at Massacrye Canyon Inn, For Kenny was dancing with Kathy Quarry who was a waitress there (She had just divorced Quarry). And Jerry was already seeing former actress Arlene Charles.

 

Quarry had 21 fights in his first 14 months as a pro, including tough fights with Tony Doyle and twice with Tony Alongi, then the loss to Machen. He turned pro at 18.
Years ago I read an article in one of the magazines about Quarry. The writer was of the opinion that Quarry had too many hard fights at too young an age, and that he would have benefitted from another 2 years as an amateur.

 

Maybe 1973 versions of Jerry Quarry vs Ken Norton would be fair. In Dec 1973, Quarry bombed out hard punching Earnie Shavers in round 1, Ken Norton broke Muhammad Ali's jaw in March 1973 and won a split decision, in September of the same year, Norton dropped a split decision to Ali.

 

It shows how chill Ali was for not punishing him for trying to lift him out of the ring. That never made sense to me.

 

Frazier 1 and 2

 

I think Frazier actually liked Quarry at least after they fought. Quarry had serious talent but whet he lacked other than a great defence was a big punch otherwise he wouldve taken Chinny Kenny out like he did Shavers.

 

I'd say the Norton beating, but he took some savage poundings as an old man that hastened his dementia

 

He did take a lot of beatings as mentioned .. Frazier twice, Ali in the rematch was nasty , Norton is hard for me to watch ... rough stuff for sure ..

 

Though straight after Quarry’s lift. Ali did push down on the back of Quarry’s head with his forearm extremely hard - the hardest I’ve ever seen Ali do same.

Perhaps Quarry lifting Ali made sense given what happened just prior at all that.

Quarry had charged in close and Ali did his usual grabbing and pushing down of the back of the head to stifle him. Perhaps Ali’s own move wasn’t so noticeable given Ali’s frequent but often illegal practice of same.

Quarry then gave Ali a short mid air ride. No physical harm done but Ali was clearly indignant because of it.

Ali answered that move with a vengeance - as already described above and you can see Quarry grab the back of his own neck afterward - and as far I’ve seen otherwise. rough tough Jerry wasn’t one to complain ordinarily.