Jerry Quarry
| Jerry Quarry | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Jerry Quarry |
| Nickname(s) | Irish The Bellflower Bomber |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
May 15, 1945 Bakersfield, California |
| Died | January 3, 1999 (aged 53) Templeton, California |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 66 |
| Wins | 53 |
| Wins by KO | 32 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 4 |
| No contests | 0 |
Jerry Quarry (May 15, 1945 – January 3, 1999), nicknamed "Irish" or "The Bellflower Bomber", was an American heavyweight boxer. Quarry was rated by Ring Magazine as the most popular fighter in the sport, from 1968 to 1971, during the peak of his career. His most famous bouts were against world champions Floyd Patterson, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton. His professional career record of 53 wins-9 losses-4 draws included wins over some of the best heavyweights of his era, 1965–75. Quarry also had a remarkably successful amateur boxing career. Also briefly a Hollywood actor, Quarry appeared in a number of television roles, and also played a recurring character on the show Adam-12. His younger brother, Mike Quarry, was also a high-ranked contender in the light heavyweight division.
Quarry was a durable and smart counter-puncher/action fighter. He had speed in both hands, including an excellent left hook. He also was notable for having a remarkable chin. He was never knocked out in any of his 66 fights, though some ended early as losses. His major flaw as a fighter was a tendency to cut easily. He was also on the smaller side as a heavyweight in this era. Quarry was six feet tall (1.83 metres) and often weighed less than 200 pounds (88 kilograms) for his matches. he also had what was considered very average reach as a boxer at only 72 inches. Today, he would be a cruiserweight, a division he greatly helped to inspire.
Quarry was the most visible member of a significant Irish-American boxing family, which included three other pro boxers (his father and two brothers). Quarry's father first put gloves on his son at five years. His career, he later felt, was decided for him at a very young age. Quarry fought first as a Junior Amateur, winning his first trophies at the age of eight. Later, he contracted nephritis, a debilitating illness which sidelined him for years. His comeback from that illness to become a professional athlete was considered medically remarkable. Quarry came to notice by winning the 1965 National Golden Gloves championship in Kansas City at age 19. Weighing just 183 pounds, Quarry knocked out each of his five opponents in the tournament, a feat unmatched before or since in the history of the tournament. In the wake of that unprecedented feat, Quarry began his pro career in May 1965, winning a decision against Gene Hamilton in Los Angeles.
Despite starting in May, Quarry had 14 matches in 1965 at the start of his pro career. Many of his early career fights took place at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where he was a popular crowd draw. Quarry supplemented meager boxing pay then by working as a tire changer at a Greyhound bus terminal. Quarry's first loss came in his 21st bout, in July, 1966, a poor showing against veteran and former contender Eddie Machen in 1966. By then he had three draws on his record. Motivated by the loss to Machen, Quarry ran off a streak of wins over good, second-tier heavyweights and rose in the rankings.
...
Wikipedia