BoxRec

Pipino Cuevas or Jerry Quarry ? Long story behind this question.

Quarry.
Cuevas could bang but Quarry had more tools. Better counter puncher.

Jerry Quarry was the better boxer, but Pipino Cuevas was the better champion.

Are you asking who would win a fight if they were both in the same weight class?

I'm more interested in would it be more impressive to defeat a peak Cuevas or Quarry ?

goose 5 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025, 19:04 I'm more interested in would it be more impressive to defeat a peak Cuevas or Quarry ?

It would be about an equal accomplishment to me.

Jerry Quarry fought much harder opponents at heavyweight than Pipino Cuevas did at welterweight.

Did Quarry actually defeat better fighters than Cuevas did ? And I'm talking about at the time they were defeated. For instance, Quarry didn't beat a peak Patterson. I'm not taking sides cause I'm not sure .

goose 5 wrote: ↑19 Sep 2025, 19:13 Did Quarry actually defeat better fighters than Cuevas did ? And I'm talking about at the time they were defeated. For instance, Quarry didn't beat a peak Patterson. I'm not taking sides cause I'm not sure .

Well, Jerry Quarry defeated dangerous boxers like Earnie Shavers by knockout. He also beat Ron Lyle by decision. And he beat Buster Mathis by decision. That's a good trio. And if we add Floyd Patterson, when Patterson was still competitive? It's a good solid career.

Quarry when he fought upper level class boxers, he lost of the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. Plus, losses to George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis didn't do him any good, but he was in the fight in all his big losses.

Pipino Cuevas defended the WBA World Welterweight title 12 times. Eleven by knockout. But, if we see his ledger, his best wins were against Clyde Gray, John Stacey, Harold Weston, Pete Ranzany, Randy Shields and Angel "El Cholo" Espada. That's the most top opposition he ever faced. Once he stepped up in opposition, he got destroyed by knockout by The Hitman Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran.

Better champion? Cuevas. Quarry never was.
Better fighter? Quarry
Better opponents? Quarry
More longevity? Quarry
More fights? Quarry
Better record? Quarry

Then, why Cuevas is in the hall of fame and Quarry not?

It could be because Cuevas did his thing when he was champion. That's the only explanation. Pipino was a devastating puncher.

The other question would be, was Pipino at welterweight, ranked higher than Jerry Quarry at heavyweight? I don't see Quarry in the top 25 all time heavyweights. If he's top 30?

Is Cuevas top 20 all-time at welterweight? Top 25? Top 30? My guess is that he could be top 25 or at least top 30.

What do you guys think?

With the exception of Shields, Cuevas destroyed the guys you listed. Quarry's wins were legit, but less dominant-Shavers excepted. Should this be a factor ?

To a certain extent, how easily you beat someone should be a factor but there are other factors more important.

This is an interesting comparison. good thread Goose!

Neither were great fighters, but very good.
Neither could compete with the truly elite; Cuevas lost badly to Duran and Hearns and Quarry lost badly to Ali, Frazier, and Norton.

Both did have some nice wins: Cuevas with Espada, Ranzany, Weston and Shields. Quarry with Patterson, (very close and against a slightly past it Patterson, but still good) Spencer, Lyle, and Shavers.

At first Cuevas's win/loss record looks bad buy many of his losses were when he was inexperienced.

Leaning towards Quarry on this but it is very close.

Should Jerry Quarry be in the hall of fame?

elmersalsa wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025, 18:02 Should Jerry Quarry be in the hall of fame?

No

I vote no for Quarry in the HOF.

goose 5 wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025, 21:34 I vote no for Quarry in the HOF.

When Jerry Quarry stepped on in class, he lost against the best. The same we could say about Pipino Cuevas.

The difference was that when Pipino was champion, he held the title for 4 years with 12 title defenses, eleven by KO. The title defenses did it over Quarry.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025, 18:26

elmersalsa wrote: ↑21 Sep 2025, 18:02 Should Jerry Quarry be in the hall of fame?

No

I say no for Quarry as well as well. And Cuevas should not be in there either. They were very good fighters. They weren't great fighters.

I'd agree. I don't think it's that crazy that Cuevas got in, but he's definitely one of the lower tier Hall of Famers for sure. It took many years for them to eventually induct him.