Jerry Quarry and the(unofficial) Bar room fights

[Caractacus]

I seem to remember watching some television programme some years ago,
and it was on the subjct of puglistic demenetia.
I remember when it was on the subject of Jerry Quarry,
the interviewed Bob Arum who claimed
that Quarry's condition was a result of not of any of his ring bouts
but that Quarry was involved in a number of bar room brawls.
Is there any documentation of how many bar room brawls Quarry
was involved in and how serious some may have been?
Was he ever taken to a hospital after any?

[Broomhall]

I dont think you will ever get a real answer to this. There were rumours Quarry had injured his back during a bar room brawl mid career but I dont know the evidence around this.

I would think Arum was just deflecting the blame really. You just cant get away from it. If you look at the cause of death for any great boxer in the past you will find dementia or a similar brain disease. Quarry will have sparred 1000s of rounds as well as his pro fights. This is the best article I have read about the Quarry brothers post career.

http://www.boxing.com/quarrymen_the_not ... ience.html

[HomicideHenry]

I want to know what kind of bars Quarry would of went to then... considering he was a world class fighter... I cant see that many men, even if they had a pool stick or ball bat in hand, who could of lasted 10-30 seconds against him.

[mikeycapp]

On one of the Prime Ticket broadcasts from the late 1980's Jerry was ringside relaying a story to Chick Hearn about a promoter whom was planning on promoting a comeback fight for Jerry. According to Jerry the promoter and he got into it and the promoter took a swing at Jerry to which Jerry said "I dropped him, you know reflex action". I don't think this is one of the unoffical barroom brawls which is depicted in the subject matter but even a Jerry Quarry "Past it" is going to put your average tough guy to sleep.

[Caractacus]

Anyone here been in a bar room brawl?
From what Ive heard,they dont exactly go by the Marquess of Queensberry rules either in any of them.
Like smashing a whiskey bottle(with still a lot of its contents inside)
or even breaking a wooden stool over your head
(from behind,before you can put up your guard).

[Caractacus]

I seem to remember reading in the Jerry Quarry biography a few years back.
That sometime in the early 1960's the Quarry family purchased a bar in Norwallk California
called"The Neutral Corner"
One time a drunken customer walked out with a pool cue and Jerry Quarry
went outside to get it from him
and the guy was huge 6 ft 6 and around 300 pounds
and smashed the pool cue over the back of Quarry's noggin.
It took 13 stitches to close it.

[Tomasino]

I seem to remember reading in the Jerry Quarry biography a few years back.
That sometime in the early 1960's the Quarry family purchased a bar in Norwallk California
called"The Neutral Corner"
One time a drunken customer walked out with a pool cue and Jerry Quarry
went outside to get it from him
and the guy was huge 6 ft 6 and around 300 pounds
and smashed the pool cue over the back of Quarry's noggin.
It took 13 stitches to close it.

He did well to weigh and measure the gentleman.

[Ezzard]

I did a lot of research into Jerry for a project my partner pitched to a TV network in the US. Jerry was involved in many brawls but mostly they were with his own family.

Great guy. And it would seem his back got knackered in one such brawl.

[Broomhall]

I think any attempt to move the blame from boxing to bar room brawling is irresponsible imo. Both Mike and Jerry died from dementia and the other brother who boxed also developed Parkinsons.

Boxing is a vicious, dangerous and dirty sport and those who escape unscathed are fortunate, especially in the bigger weights. This isnt a criticism of the game as I love it but you have to be honest with yourself and take it for what it is imo.

Bar room brawls my a@*

[Ezzard]

I think you're right. But I think Jerry's back injury was caused in a bar fight with his brother(s). And this did effect his career.

[Caractacus]

He did well to weigh and measure the gentleman.

well,thats what I had read anyways sucka,and here is the link to the poof.

http://www.books.google.com/books?id=Hb ... pg=PA87&dq

[Tomasino]

Thank you duchess

[Dancin' Dan]

I believe the promoter tussle described here was with the Ellis family. Jimmy who played pro football went on to fight Foreman. Other brother John was a cruiser. All three of the Ellis clan got into it with Quarry when he was well past it. Not sure how it started. It was around the time of Jerrys comeback in Colorado.