January 2002 - March 2004 - The Jerry Quarry Foundation

Foreman-Quarry. I don't think at the time promoters thought this would be the
draw it might well have been. Quarry just wasn't getting the credit, the
matchmakers clearly looked past him, a shame. While JQ would surely have had a
chance, it's a lot to ask for him to give up 25lbs. and beat a fighter of
Foreman's power and ability. Also too bad he ended up then meeting Frazier
again, when other 'name' matches might have been available. Regarding Rocco, he
is a top 5 all-timer because he could not be stopped and had the HUGE right
hand. ESPN has run his match vs. Archie Moore, a must see. Moore was four pounds
heavier, took a few rounds from Rock. Then, he went the way they all did with
Marciano --- down. Frazier was considered by some a 'new Rocky', generally a
good comparison. Foreman would KO him, but Ali probably wouldn't. Rocco was an
amazing body puncher also, he would send Holmes, Lewis. People forget Rock
rarely topped 190lbs., yet thoroughly dominated his era, give him his due. Still
ranks ahead of Foreman because he never lost, he lasted through all they had
then, was a better thinking fighter also. Yet today, he wouldn't be close to
heavyweight! Massimo, Wilt and Shaq met numerous times socially, comparisons
between the two have been made for years. Wilt was lighter, but was an ardent
weightlifter and was, prime vs. prime, stronger than Shaq. Wilt, like Ali, gave
somewhat left-handed compliments, because he felt underappreciated in his time
(he clearly was), and could outplay any center being discussed. I think he
appreciated Shaq's dominance/size, but when asked how he'd play Shaq, he
dissected him pretty well. Shaq is great at some parts of the game, almost awful
at just as many others. Wilt's game had few weaknesses. A lot of hoops for a
boxing site... While we're discussing classic heavies, another undefeated
champion was Gene Tunney, clearly the best boxer of his time. He also used
movement to beat the many flat-footed fighters of his day, was a college grad,
very interesting guy. I have him top Ten all-time as Heavyweight. Opinions?
|
|8/28/03 04:14:41 PM|Gerry Schultz|Cleveland,
Ohio||jgschultz11@msn.com||||9|Also, good posts on Smokin' Joe. I was a fan of
his and JQ's about equally back then. He had a huge motor and, like Jerry,
overacheived. His win over Ali was more clear than a lot of folks know. His
style was a poor matchup for Foreman, who needed to be boxed/counterpunched.
Frazier was clearly under 6', at his best about 210-215. He had clear
disadvantages versus both Ali, Foreman. Ali-Frazier III is still the greatest
boxing match I ever saw, just ahead of Hearns-Leonard. Very few fights even
approach that intensity now. Joe is very complimentary of JQ in his book, a
class guy all around. |
|8/28/03 04:37:21 PM|Massimo|Rome||W Wilt.com||||10|Marciano was one of the
greatest champions but I have read that the judges helped him a couple of times
( against Ted Lowry and in another fight). Is it true ? I have just watched the
film " Conan the destroyer " and Wilt was a good actor.... Pretty tall too !|
|8/28/03 04:47:43 PM|Angelo|Washington, DC||funktron@yahoo.com||||10|I have to
differ on the opinions expressed regarding the fantasy Holmes-Frazier fight. I
think at their best, Holmes would win a close decision. I think he could
effectively use his left jab, the best in the business, to keep Frazier away and
pile up points. Holmes would win the early rounds, the middle rounds would be
even, but Frazier would come on in the later rounds. Holmes would have enough
at the end to eek out a close decision. I could see this being a carbon copy of
Holmes-Norton. Even if Frazier landed the big left hook, I think Holmes would
be shaken, but would survive like he did against Shavers (a harder hitter than
Frazier) and come back to win. Frazier and Holmes were both tremendous
champions. Frazier faced the better fighters---but lost several of these fights
against the best of the best, including Ali II and III and both Foreman fights,
while he was still relatively young. Of course, he had a lot taken out of him,
as Ali did, by their wars. Holmes was flawless until very late in his career,
past his mid-30's. |