Jerry Quarry vs. Oscar Bonavena: Who wins?

[kovit]

I would ask you, what happens if the two good fighters from the 1960s and 1970s going at it between Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Why did they never fight each other?

[KOJOE90]

Good matchup.

This as with many fights involving the late Jerry Quarry would depend on what frame of mind he was in.

I think that Quarry had the skills and toughness to counter-punch his way to a tough but covinding victory over the bull like Bonavena. Quarry had the skills and edge in speed to spend most the fight scoring with effective counter-punching whilst having the toughness to stand and trade with Bonavena for short periods. This is the most like outcome.

However if Quarry came into this fight wild and breathing fire as he sometimes did, this may play into Bonavenas hands. If Quarry decieded to stand in the centre of the ring and go toe to toe with the stronger Bonavena this could turn out to be a bruising, ugly, foul filled slugfest with IMO the bull like Bonavena coming out the victor.

So to summerise if Quarry boxes he wins, if he brawls he loses IMO.

Shame this fight never happened.

[dempseyfire]

Very good fight. Bonavena is under-rated by lots of folks b/c they only know him from the Ali fight. The guy was a machine-like an in-shape David Tua-great chin, constant pressure, awesome power, and very good stamina. He could be outboxed, however, as whenever he stepped up against the class boxers he lost (Patterson, Ali, Ellis, etc.) Quarry could box pretty well when he chose to (see the Lyle fight) but his Irish spirit often got the better of him and he went to slug it out when he had no business doing so (Frazier). I'd give the edge t the counter-punching Quarry but it'd be close.

[KOJOE90]

I suppose if the draw of the WBA eliminator of the late 1960's had worked out differently this fight would have happened.

[silkov]

Good post Kovit!... the result as Joe said depends on what Quarry showed up. If he was in a positive and calm mood and used his counterboxing skills then I see him beating Bonavena on points but if he went in and slugged with Bonevena then I can see Oscar winning on a stoppage.... he'd be too strong and Jerry was prone to cuts. I've read a very interesting book 'Ringmasters' by Dave Anderson on great boxing trainers and their fighters and in it Gil Clancy who trained Quarry said that part of his problem was his wife who he'd often argue with etc before fights and this would often lead to his erratic performances in the ring! women eh!.
Seriously though, at his best Quarry was a great fighter and would clean up if he was around today! 8)

[Marciano Frazier]

I would ask you, what happens if the two good fighters from the 1960s and 1970s going at it between Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Why did they never fight each other?

I've thought about this one before. These guys both fought a lot of the same guys around the same time and were both top contenders at the same time, but for some reason they never actually fought each other.

Bonavena was bigger and didn't cut as easily. They were both good punchers, both tough, and both were physically strong and reasonably good boxers. I think Quarry had a better chin.

They have lots of common opponents. Let's look through the list:
Quarry did better against Patterson. Their first fight was a close draw, and the rematch a close decision for Quarry, Quarry scoring a total of three knockdowns in those two fights. Bonavena lost a 10-round UD to Patterson, although he did score a questionable "knockdown" in round four.

Quarry lost two mid-round stoppages on cuts to Frazier, while Bonavena did better, dropping Frazier twice in the second round of their first fight and giving him a very tough time in the rematch, lasting the distance both times.

Bonavena also did better against Ali. Quarry was again twice stopped on his feet by Ali, and Ali pretty much dominated Quarry throughout, while he may have been behind going into the last round against Bonavena. However, while Bonavena did better overall against Ali, I think this fight supports Quarry having the better chin, as Quarry took many of Ali's best shots and never went down, whereas Bonavena was dropped and in serious trouble from an Ali left(Ali was never a particularly great puncher, and his best punch was always his right, not his left).

Quarry did better against Lyle. Quarry decisioned him over 12 rounds, whereas Bonavena lost to him.

Bonavena did better against Chuvalo. Chuvalo beat Quarry by a KO, whereas Bonavena took Chuvalo by a disputed 10-round decision.

Quarry did better against Ellis. Ellis dropped Bonavena twice en route to a decision win, and then in his next fight, he won a controversial decision over Quarry. Another match which would support Quarry having the better chin, although Chuvalo would contradict that.

So that makes them three to three out of the common opponents I listed. I'm sure there were more that I'm not thinking about, but anyway, I think this match is pretty much even. Either fighter could win on any given night.

[kovit]

I know the height at reach of Bonavena, do you think Bonavena have the longer reach of his arms than Quarry? If so, just how long Quarry's arms are in reach, please.

[KOJOE90]

I know the height at reach of Bonavena, do you think Bonavena have the longer reach of his arms than Quarry? If so, just how long Quarry's arms are in reach, please.

This site may have the answer for you, if not you can e-mail the site.

http://www.jerryquarry.com/

[dempseyfire]

I would ask you, what happens if the two good fighters from the 1960s and 1970s going at it between Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Why did they never fight each other?

I've thought about this one before. These guys both fought a lot of the same guys around the same time and were both top contenders at the same time, but for some reason they never actually fought each other.

Bonavena was bigger and didn't cut as easily. They were both good punchers, both tough, and both were physically strong and reasonably good boxers. I think Quarry had a better chin.

They have lots of common opponents. Let's look through the list:
Quarry did better against Patterson. Their first fight was a close draw, and the rematch a close decision for Quarry, Quarry scoring a total of three knockdowns in those two fights. Bonavena lost a 10-round UD to Patterson, although he did score a questionable "knockdown" in round four.

Quarry lost two mid-round stoppages on cuts to Frazier, while Bonavena did better, dropping Frazier twice in the second round of their first fight and giving him a very tough time in the rematch, lasting the distance both times.

Bonavena also did better against Ali. Quarry was again twice stopped on his feet by Ali, and Ali pretty much dominated Quarry throughout, while he may have been behind going into the last round against Bonavena. However, while Bonavena did better overall against Ali, I think this fight supports Quarry having the better chin, as Quarry took many of Ali's best shots and never went down, whereas Bonavena was dropped and in serious trouble from an Ali left(Ali was never a particularly great puncher, and his best punch was always his right, not his left).

Quarry did better against Lyle. Quarry decisioned him over 12 rounds, whereas Bonavena lost to him.

Bonavena did better against Chuvalo. Chuvalo beat Quarry by a KO, whereas Bonavena took Chuvalo by a disputed 10-round decision.

Quarry did better against Ellis. Ellis dropped Bonavena twice en route to a decision win, and then in his next fight, he won a controversial decision over Quarry. Another match which would support Quarry having the better chin, although Chuvalo would contradict that.

So that makes them three to three out of the common opponents I listed. I'm sure there were more that I'm not thinking about, but anyway, I think this match is pretty much even. Either fighter could win on any given night.

Regarding the Ali comparison, Bonavena went down in the 15th rd more from exhaustion and accumulation of punishment, not from a single shot. He had a very solid chin. He also arguably is the only guy to knock down CHuvalo (another poster Klompton said one of the 'slips' was dubious at best). I agree the match is pretty much even, but think that they're chins were about even.

[BoxBuzz]

I'd feel confident betting on Quarry in either 12 or 15 round decision.

[klompton]

Tough one to pick. Id probably lean to Bonavena very slightly. They almost fought in 1973. When Jeff Merritt broke Earnie Shavers jaw in training Teddy Brenner tried to get Bonavena as a replacement against Quarry but Bonavena didnt have enough time to get in shape and declined. I believe they were matched one other time but Bonavena broke a hand or a thumb and couldnt go through with it.