Date: 26th October 1970
Venue: City Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, USATitle: 15 Round Non-Title Heavyweight Bout
Promoter: House of Sports, Inc, Sports Action Inc
Referee: Tony Perez
Tv: Closed Circuit Television
Muhammad Ali
(
29
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 213½ lbs
Jerry Quarry
(
37
-
4
-
4
)
Weight: 197½ lbs
On October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali emerged from a 43-month exile to face Jerry Quarry at Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium. The bout marked Ali's return after being stripped of his titles and licenses for refusing military induction in 1967. Ali secured a boxing license through the political manoeuvring of Georgia State Senator Leroy Johnson.
Quarry entered as The Ring's #1 contender, weighing 198 pounds to Ali's 213. The fight drew 5,100 spectators and was aired via closed circuit to 206 locations across North America and international broadcasts.
Ali's renowned hand speed remained largely intact despite the layoff. He controlled the action with his jab while Quarry struggled to mount an effective offence, managing only sporadic left hook attempts. Quarry's sole meaningful connection came via a second-round body shot.
The decisive moment occurred midway through round three when Ali's right hand opened a severe cut over Quarry's left eye. Though Quarry later explicitly credited the wound to Ali's punch rather than a head clash, his corner stopped the fight before round four. The laceration required 15 stitches to close.
Sports Illustrated's Mark Kram noted that while Ali's signature pull-back defensive movement appeared slightly slower, his combination punching and ring intelligence remained sharp. Ali estimated the fight might have lasted 10 rounds without the cut stoppage.
The financial terms saw Ali guaranteed $200,000 against 42.5% of net income, while Quarry was guaranteed $150,000 against 22.5%. This marked Ali's first step toward reclaiming the heavyweight crown, though questions about his stamina remained unanswered due to the abbreviated length of the contest.