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Quarry, trying to protect himself
from Ali's long-range attack, goes
into deep crouch (above and left),
a position he assumed throughout
most of their second fight. Ali
(below) consoles Jerry after the
bout was stopped in the seventh
round. Recent victories over Ron
Lyle, Tony Doyle and Earnie
Shavers have earned Quarry a
third opportun_ity at Muhammad.

Ali. record, which he has done. Ali has
Quarry is a smart enough boxer to had the ,most controversial career of
beat Ali. His physical equipment is any public figure in recent times. It
now equal to or s_urpasses Foreman's would be understandable if he's tired,
and his boxing wits are far more de- ready to leave the limelight. In in-
veloped than Foreman's. Ali can do terviews before the second Frazier
a lot to an opponent by fighting with bout, Ali downgraded the importance
his head. Quarry may be the only of the fight. The single-minded con-
fighter around with enough savvy to centration that led him to be one of
beat Ali. the sport's all-time greats has left
Many believe Jerry Quarry, more him. He's a family man who may want
than anyone else, has been the man to rest. Nobody can blame him.
who defeats Jerry Quarry. There can However, no one can change the
be little argument that is at least facts, either. Ali is in the tail end of
partially true. The fact remains that his career, with his fabulous gifts de-
Quarry allowed his family to pressure . teriorating. He has a slightly more
him, allowed . the celebrity leeches to valid claim to a championship match ·
take advantage of him. After all, they than does Floyd Patterson. It's a quirk
•provided a ready excuse in the event of fate that Foreman's style makes point in time, Jerry Quarry should be
he lost. him one of the few boxers Ali has a able to defeat Muhammad Ali.
The excuses are gone now, at chance to defeat. He has much less The only thing working in Ali's
Jerry's insistence. He wants the title of a chance against Jerry Quarry. favor is Quarry's mercurial tempera-
badly, which may be the most im- A fight between Ali and Quarry in ment. Lately, Quarry has become an-
portant reason QUarry can defeatAli. the near future would pit an aging, grily despondent over not getting a
Jerry isn't looking for excuses-he's - decaying legend against a tough, de- match with either Ali or Foreman.
looking to win. termined fighter. It is imp'ractical to If he allows his anger and frustration
On the other hand, Ali seems to be compare what. would happen if the to overcome his reason, as he's done
tiring. He has said he doesn't need . two men in Ali's prime. in the past, he may give the third
George Foreman. All he wanted to do Ali's prime is past. What has to be fight to Ali. It looks like the only
was avenge the two defeats on his considered is the present. At this way Ali can get it. □