As the United States transitioned into a new decade, the country was winding its way through a variety of cultural changes. News and protests around the country continued to focus on America’s involvement in Vietnam.
Woodstock, held the previous summer, was released to theaters as a documentary in March. It further pushed the voice of many calling for peace while the images of battle captivated the country’s attention on the evening news.
While the Soviet Union was performing a series of above and below ground nuclear tests, President Richard Nixon was promising a gradual troop withdrawal from Southeast Asia.
In the sports world, the American Football League handed the National Football League its second consecutive Super Bowl loss as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.
The year was 1970.
Ushering in a new era was topped off by the return of a familiar face. Many anxiously awaited his reemergence on the boxing scene as he was just months away from being back inside the ring.
That man was Muhammad Ali.
Ali, now 28, had last fought on March 22, 1967. On that night in New York, he stopped Zora Folley in seven rounds to retain the Heavyweight championship. Ali (29-0, 23 KOs) remained undefeated.
Just five weeks later, he was stripped of his crown.
The now former-champion was involved in a bitter battle centered on his refusal to be inducted into the United States Army. Citing his religious beliefs and view of the war, Ali famously stated, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.”
Stripped of his title and his boxing license revoked, Ali was forced into exile and could no longer defend his Heavyweight crown. Instead of fighting in the ring, he was forced to fight in court to be reinstated.
While that battle was being waged, Joe Frazier won the vacant Heavyweight title stopping Buster Mathis in 11 rounds.
After years of legal clashes, one that would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court the following year, Ali would return to action after 3 ½ years away from the sport.
There would be no warm ups or safe opponents for the former champion. On the contrary, Ali would return by facing the tough and rugged “Irish” Jerry Quarry.
Quarry, 25, was ranked No. 1 in the world by Ring Magazine. He had twice fought Floyd Patterson, first battling to a draw, then winning the rematch just four months later.
Fighting top Heavyweights, Quarry (37-5-4, 23 KOs) had faced the likes of Frazier, Mathis, Jimmy Ellis and George Chuvalo. He had both will and heart to go along with an iron jaw. He aggressively pressured opponents with a variety of punches, the left hook being one of his favorites.
The two agreed to meet on October 26 in Atlanta, Georgia. The bout, scheduled for 15 rounds, was broadcast on closed-circuit television while a sold out crowd of 5,100 fans packed the City Auditorium to watch the fight in person.
Most couldn’t wait to see Ali fight again. There were some, however, that were still angry with the controversial former champion. Years later, Ali’s doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, would reflect back on that evening and on Ali’s hypnotic focus on beating Quarry.
“We were going into Atlanta to fight Jerry Quarry. The police said we can’t protect you. There’s no way to go in but down this isle. Without even batting an eye he said, ‘that’s not my problem, that’s your problem. I’m gonna go fight Jerry Quarry. That’s my problem.’ He discounted it like that’s God’s will.”
Quarry entered the ring first. Wearing a brilliantly colored green robe, his face was a mask of concentration as he bounced around the ring while waiting for Ali.
Moments later, the crowd thundered as Ali came into view and made his way towards the ring. Wearing a white robe, the crowd again roared as he entered the ring and danced in his corner.
The two came face-to-face for referee Tony Perez’s instructions. Within seconds, the two immediately began jawing back and forth at each other.
The bout got underway with Ali starting as if he hadn’t lost a step. He bounced gracefully with his hands at his sides, gliding around the ring while pumping his vintage left jab.
Quarry immediately took on the role of the aggressor as he pursued Ali from pillar to post. The speed advantage Ali possessed was immediately apparent as he was beating Quarry to the punch.
The sharp left jab of Ali, supported by a six-inch reach advantage, began to redden Quarry’s nose just minutes into the action. The former champion was mixing in hooks and uppercuts at the attacking Quarry. The crowd again boomed as the first round ended.
Now in Round 2, Ali continued to stay out of Quarry’s punching range keeping the action in the center of the ring. Ali’s piston jab continued to work overtime as he fired right crosses. While he jabbed, Quarry was on the defensive moving his head and trying to answer with wide swinging hooks.
Ali was controlling the pace and appeared to have won the first two rounds. Every time Quarry got in close and would wind up to launch his left hook, Ali would jab, fire and move out of range.
Round 3 began with Quarry landing a sharp left hook to Ali’s body. He was now having some success in bullying Ali to the ropes. Not moving with the same authority he did in the first two rounds, Ali tried to get the action back into the center of the ring.
Ali continued mixing in right crosses and left hooks as Quarry began wiping at his left eye. A nasty gash had appeared and the blood began to flow profusely. Ali was energized and seemingly fed off of the damage he had had done to Quarry’s eye.
Ali was now attacking and the pep had returned to his legs.
After the round ended, the fight was stopped just seconds later. An infuriated Quarry, who would later need 15 stitches to close the gash, pushed his corner men away and wanted to continue.
The action was stopped and Ali was back by scoring a third-round TKO.
Angelo Dundee, Ali’s trainer, would later break down his fighter’s success against Quarry, “It looked like he had never been away because Jerry Quarry was so made to order for Muhammad. He’s a hooker, Jerry wasn’t a jabber. Every time Quarry would start a punch, bang, he’d get nailed with that jab.”
The two would meet again two years later. Ali would again prevail stopping Quarry in a brutal seven round battle.
