Irish Jerry Quarry, A Historical Remembrance
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Correspondent
RCM Historical Boxing
Jerry Quarry was the all-American boy, acceptable to the white establishment, not quite a ‘Great White Hope’, but probably regarded as the next best thing in his time. In his time, Jerry was very popular and well-liked by the American public.
In a historical reflection, it pays to look back on the significance of Jerry Quarry’s career in his prime. The Hall of Fame heavyweight was in the mix for awhile, though he never won the world heavyweight title. Quarry, a native of Los Angeles, California, known as ‘The Irish Bellflower Belter’, compiled a career record of 53-9-4 with 32 knockouts.
Irish Jerry Quarry 11 Minute Career Tribute on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pARExGEOW0
Jerry Quarry debuted professionally on May 7, 1965, at Memorial Coliseum in los Angeles, with a four round decision over 6-25 Gene Hamilton. Quarry’s debut was a quiet debut in the middle of the Cassius Clay turned Muhammad Ali first reign as heavyweight champion, unlikely to receive any attention.
Quarry went unbeaten in his first 20 professional bouts, going 18-0 with two ten round draws to Tony Alongi. In his first real test, Jerry lost a ten round decision to Eddie Machen in July 1966 at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Jerry then went unbeaten in his next ten bouts, with a 12 round decision win over former World Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, and a stoppage in the twelfth round over Thad Spencer in World Boxing Association heavyweight title eliminator bouts.
Jerry was now in his fighting prime, and getting attention. Jerry lost a peculiar 15 round majority decision to Jimmy Ellis for the vacant WBA World Heavyweight title. Considering Earnie Shavers would then knock out Ellis in the first round, and then Jerry then knocked out Shavers in the first round (who was not yet bald or well known), Jerry’s loss to Ellis seems strange. Different matchups often yield different results in boxing. This was a noted yet unbelievable triangle of outcomes.
After winning his next five bouts, Jerry was stopped by Smokin’ Joe Frazier. After winning another two bouts, Jerry was knocked out by George Chuvalo. After winning his next four fights, Jerry was stopped in three rounds by Muhammad Ali.
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) versus Jerry Quarry I 1970 in Color on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHVxa4pmuRc
After winning his next five bouts, including a first round knockout of European Heavyweight champion Jack Bodell, Jerry got stopped in seven rounds by Muhammad Ali in a rematch.
Muhammad Ali versus Jerry Quarry II 1972 in Color on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKAeghZCNcw
Jerry Quarry versus Jack Bodell 64 Second Bout on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfypx1zTRuQ
Jerry Quarry versus Joe Alexander 1974 in Color on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol6kyi42PgI
After winning his next six bouts, Jerry got stopped by Joe Frazier in a rematch.
Jerry Quarry versus Joe Frazier II 1974 in Color on YouTube, Referee Joe Louis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIrzABDtM4E
Jerry then fought on, hot and cold. After winning a decision in 10 rounds over George Johnson, Jerry got stopped in five rounds by Ken Norton, who would later get knocked out in the first round by Earnie Shavers, adding to the triangle.
In November 1977, Jerry made his last appearance of glory, coming from behind to knock out Lorenzo Zanon in the ninth round at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Zanon had won every round on the scorecards till Jerry knocked him out in a corner. A shot at Muhammad Ali was possible. Jerry vanished, returned six years later to win two bouts at cruiserweight.
In 1992, seeing the amazing comeback of George foreman, Jerry returned to the ring, believing he could return like Foreman did, but it was not to be, as Jerry lost a six round decision at age 47 to Ron Cranmer, a 3-4-1 fighter who lost his next four bouts. Jerry was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1995, but died later that year from Dementia pugilistica, a punch drunk fighter. In 1968, Boxing Illustrated named Jerry Quarry the most popular fighter in the world. Quarry had lost the big fights, but back in the day he was not just a contender, Jerry Quarry was the contender.
Jerry Quarry gave his heart to boxing, but also his mind. Jerry Quarry was the only man brave enough to fight Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier twice. Fearless and rugged, Irish Jerry Quarry paved the way for the next ‘Great White Hope’ heavyweight Irish Jerry Cooney, and the wave of Irish fighters who followed. His career had lasted 27 years. Quarry would not be the only athlete to suffer from the violent aspects of his career, skill notwithstanding. Football, hockey, Mixed Martial Arts, boxing, and other sports, sports fans want action and blood. Many athletes have sustained mental and physical damage in contact sports which take their toll.
Jerry Quarry earned two million dollars in the ring. Jerry wound up on Social Security disability at $614 a month, with no health insurance. Like most sports stars, Jerry was well-liked for the moment. In the end, only his family cared about him and for him. The Jerry Quarry Foundation was set up by his late brother James Quarry to help other fighters in need. “I’ve been in the ring many times, and I enjoyed every one of them, because there is no quit in the game for me,” noted Quarry near the end of his life.
Jerry’s brother James gave conflicting views on what ultimately caused his brother’s decaying mental condition. “The two fights with Joe Frazier and the fight with Ken Norton, Jerry took too many blows to the head.” On another occasion, James noted “It wasn’t any one fight which did the damage.” When Quarry fought club fighter Ron ‘The Animal’ Cranmer at age 47, his front teeth were already knocked out and he had been suffering from dementia for nine years. Quarry could not even remember what he was doing the night before the fight. When asked later whether he wanted his two sons to become boxers, Quarry stated “No. Not at all.”
The Jerry Quarry Chronicles Part I Narrated by Bert Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=703SI9FdUyw
The Jerry Quarry Chronicles Part II Narrated by Bert Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsXk1d095V8
“Well……I summarize my entire boxing career in one paragraph. I said boxing is a cruel and vicious sport. The more cruel it becomes, the more people enjoy it. I’m not an animal I guess, that’s why I never became champion,” reflected Jerry Quarry.
A true gentleman in every respect, with a ‘never say quit’ fight attitude, Irish Jerry Quarry did far more for the sport of boxing than boxing did for him, a rare quality indeed. Why do boxers like Muhammad Ali, Jerry Quarry and Mike Quarry come out of the ring bad, and others like Chuck Wepner and George Chuvalo come out good? There is no rhyme, no reason, and no logic. Rest in peace, Jerry. God speed.
Jerry died in 1995. Jerry’s brother Mike, a light heavyweight, had a professional record of 62-13-6 with 16 knockouts, and was an astounding 35-0 when he fought Bob Foster for the WBA and WBC Light Heavyweight titles in 1972 before getting knocked out in his only title opportunity. Bobby died in 2006 after his brother, from the same affliction from being in the ring, Dementia pugilistica. They are buried in Shafter, California. Their brother Robert ‘Bobby’ Quarry, who fought for ten years as a heavyweight but did not achieve fame (save for one knockout loss on ESPN to Tommy Morrison in 1992) still lives in Shafter. Bobby went 9-12-2 as a pro, but entered the ring blind on one eye, which was a sandlot football injury, so Bobby never really had a fair start, it can be argued. The Jerry Quarry Foundation for Pugilistica Dementia can be found online at http://www.jerryquarry.com/
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