Remember Bugner gave (an albeit past-prime) Frazier (who stopped QuarryX2) hell, & never looked in any real danger (of being seriously hurt OR winning) against Ali (who also stopped QuarryX2).
This brings back a lot of memories, bro. Aussie Joe wanted NO PART of Jerry, never anytime or anywhere, and turned down six figures (big jack in those days) purses to fight the Bellflower Bomber. So what happened is this: a guy named Jack Bodell (a southpaw) whipped Bugner and took his British Empire Titles, Lonsdale Belts, and European Championships, and Bodell accepted Jerry's offer for a fight anywhere, in his home country of Britain. The always unafraid Quarry took the fight before a sold out crowd in Wembley I believe, and Jerry knocked him cold inside a round, the fight is on youtube. When Jerry was asked by the great British commentator Harry Carpenter as to what he thought Bodell's chances of winning a world title in the future were, the always honest and hard fighting Jerry replied: "Well....he fell awkwardly."::
Very interesting. Thanx Karl. I'm going to look up that fight now. It seems Bugner didn't think he'd win, but that doesn't necessarilly mean he wouldn't of. I can't help but think of Foreman, saying that he ducked Quarry, and thinking (as I still do) that George would have beat him. (not to say that Bugner is in Foremans league), but I think you get the point. So who do you think would have won?
Quarry clearly knew how to deal with S.P's, & Bodell went on to lose his next (and last) two fights by stoppage, both within 2rounds Just watched Bugner-Bodell. I can see where Wlad copied his defensive technique against the S.P STR8 L.H. Could be styles/ circumstances @ play here. The crowd was very hostile towards Joe, as he had just in their minds unfairly beat Cooper, plus he clearly had issues with Southpaws. "Styles"?
Bugner was a tough S.O.B., and a bigger man than Jerry. An inspired Bugner gave Frazier life or death in their fight, closed his right eye, and nearly dropped Joe as well, and gave Ali fits first time around as he was as big as Ali was, something rare for a heavyweight in those days. Still, I think Quarry would have pulled it out with his body punching and better all around movement and timing. Both fighters were extremely temperamental, could lose their cool at the flip of a switch, but in different ways. Jerry would blow up and forget what he learned in the gym once his Irish was up and he lost his temper ala Frazier 2 and Chuvalo, while Bugner could turn meek as a lamb ala Ali 2. Quarry W 12 as I don't see him stopping Bugner, but giving him a good boxing lesson.
