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Today's Jerry Quarry is not the same · man
who twice lost to Muhammad Ali. Today's
Muha.mmad Ali is not the same man who
twice whipped Quarry \
'However, a body pushed beyond
J ERRY QUARRY CAN beat its oapabilities can function for only
Muhammad .Ali.
Two years ago the above statement a short time before deteriorating. ln
would be included with observations his last fights, Ali became a vague
such as "King Kong is alive and recollection . of the magnificent
well," and "Bob Hope is the leader boxer who won the heavyweight
of SOS." championship and did more for the
But a lot changes happen in, two sport of professional boxing than any
years. man in history. His legs lost their
The first person to change was spring after a couple of rounds.
Muhammad Ali. His comeback from Only occasional brilliant flashes are
his enforced layoff was one of the left. Muhammad Ali is now only a
most remarkable feats in sports pretty good imitation of the fighter
history. To get his tired, out-of-shape he used to be.
body back into . some semblance of Meanwhile, Jerry Quarry is im-
. condition was a task that is testimony proving by leaps and bounds. Since
to the man's determination and ending his second retirement,
courage. However, any athlete can tell Quarry has changed his status from
you that an _ extended period of in- perrenial opponent to the boxer to
action permanently damages the be feared. The reasons for avoiding
muscles and coordination. _They can Quarry are many. the reasons to fight
never return to what they once were Quarry are few.
during their prime. At this point, if Ali fought Quarry
Muhammad's performance's upon he would stand to lose much more
his return showed what a great Jerry Quarry and Muhammad Ali than he would gain. If he lost to
athlete the man is. A Muhammad .have at each other along the ropes in Quarry, which is a good possibility,
Ali with his gifts diminished was their first fight in Atlanta - one a big money fight against George
greater and more exciting than most which Quarry could've won had he Foreman would be out of the ques-
not suffered an 11-stitch cut.
of the heavyweights currently fight- tion. Ali doesn't want. to jeopardize
ing. what promises to be the largest purse
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