Golden Boy Art Aragon got a verbal wrist slapping from Tony Entenza , chairman of the State Athletic Commission, for his
"pop-off" at a Pasadena Club recently. Aragon was charged with saying all sorts of nasty things about boxing, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. Called up on the carpet, the penitent Aragon told Commissioner Entenza that he was trying to be humorous, but apparently his humor had back-fired..
Frank, like you said, when wasn't the "Golden Boy" in trouble..
Cholo wrote:
And maybe Ali was slipping, but he was still the standout fighter of the era..
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We may disagree about Ali's abilities, but his whole personna makes him without question the most stand out fighter, athlete and human being of the era.
The most recognizable face on earth. Just as Jack Dempsey was in his era, long before TV.
Cholo wrote:How about Fat Willie Meehan, Dempsey fought him four times and couldn't defeat him, do you think Muhammad Ali would have had trouble with Fat Willie?...
Actually, Dempsey's record against Meehan was 1-2-2 (and, if you look at the ringside reports from one of the draws, the reporters felt that Dempsey won). You have to consider they were all four-rounders. I get your point - but, on the otherhand, do you think Fat Willie would have even lasted the distance if the fights had been scheduled for 10 or 25 rounds?
I wonder if Rick's grandfather knew Willie Meehan? After he retired, Willie worked for the motion picture studios as an electrician.
Rick Farris wrote:Cholo wrote:
And maybe Ali was slipping, but he was still the standout fighter of the era..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We may disagree about Ali's abilities, but his whole personna makes him without question the most stand out fighter, athlete and human being of the era.
The most recognizable face on earth. Just as Jack Dempsey was in his era, long before TV.
Rick, Who knows who would have won, it's a tough one, like you say they were both standout fighters of there era..
kikibalt wrote:[ I been sick since I came back from my fishing trip with what I think is the flu.... , sure feels like it, haven't seen a doctor for it yet, I don't know what the hell am waiting for.... :x
As long as it aint Dr. Liston (in wich case i understand if you got some scepticism ) you should get on down to the doctors office
Cholo wrote:How about Fat Willie Meehan, Dempsey fought him four times and couldn't defeat him, do you think Muhammad Ali would have had trouble with Fat Willie?...
Actually, Dempsey's record against Meehan was 1-2-2 (and, if you look at the ringside reports from one of the draws, the reporters felt that Dempsey won). You have to consider they were all four-rounders. I get your point - but, on the otherhand, do you think Fat Willie would have even lasted the distance if the fights had been scheduled for 10 or 25 rounds?
I wonder if Rick's grandfather knew Willie Meehan? After he retired, Willie worked for the motion picture studios as an electrician.
Tom, that's news to me, but I'm not surprised. Lighting tech's & studio electricians are the same thing. My Union local was established in the 30's, and my grandfather was a charter member. I don't recall him mentioning Meehan, just Ace Hudkins, Mushy Callahan, Jack Roper who worked in the industry in different locals. He did tell me of a boxer who dropped dead on one of his lighting crews, and I cannot remember who it was. If Meehan dropped dead on a film set, maybe he is the guy? I might give my local's Business Agent a call and see if he can find Meehan's name on a past roster.
Memorial Day trivia:
Boyle Heights, East L.A. was the home of the largest number of soldiers to die in Viet Nam.
No zip code in the U.S. lost more citizens to that war.
I was watching ESPN, hoping to hear the result of a fight that had taken place earlier in the evening. When the sports news finally came on I waited thru the scores of games I had no interest in and was happy to hear the announcer say . . . "And now from the world of boxing".
I expected a report on the fight since there was nothing else of importance going on in boxing at the time. Instead, I heard something that made me forget about the fight result I had been waiting for. I still remember the
words . . ."a sad note to report in boxing today, former heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry has died at the age of 53." I was stunned.
I was aware that Jerry had not been doing well and suffered from Dementia pugilistica. I knew that he had been living with his mother Arawanda in a mobile home park near the Hemet area of Southern California and was under her care. Mutual friends from the past, such as former middleweight Mike Nixon, Jerry's brother-in-law, had told me that Jerry could no longer handle simple daily tasks, such as shaving. Jerry's older brother Jimmy would help him with such things. I remember how sad it was to hear this a couple of years back, and that Jerry would no doubt die young. However, I couldn't imagine him dead at 53.
I wasn't the only person surprised to hear of Quarry's death. However, in my case it was something very personal. You see, as a kid all I wanted to do was become a boxer. Jerry Quarry helped make this possible. Jerry's success and accomplishments are a part of boxing history. However, being close to a boxer who won the National Golden Gloves Heavyweight title in 1965, and went on to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship as a professional, is a part of my history.
When I was twelve-years-old I had a dream that was a bit unusual for a middle class kid growing up in Burbank, California. I was going to be a professional boxer. I didn't just want to be a pro fighter . . .I was GOING TO BE a pro fighter. I set a goal for myself and nothing was going to stop me. Of course, nobody took me seriously but it didn't matter, I took myself seriously. However, this was not going to be easy. First off, there were no boxing gyms in the Burbank area or close by where I could start out. The YMCA didn't have a boxing program and even if it had, I was looking for a place where real boxers trained, amateurs and pros.
In early 1965, the Western Regional Golden Gloves Championships were televised in the Los Angeles area and, naturally, I was glued to the TV. The heavyweight final was won by a 19-year-old from Bellflower named Jerry
Quarry. Quarry scored a decision over Clay Hodges and would represent Los Angeles in the national tournament the following week in Kansas City. There was something special about this fighter and I couldn't see anybody beating him in the Nationals. I was right.
Jerry Quarry not only won the 1965 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight title but was the only boxer to do so by knocking out all five of his opponents. I read about Quarry winning the National Golden Gloves title in the Los Angeles Times and the news made me want to start boxing even more.
I was frustrated because I had a goal and couldn't get started. I was twelve years old and not getting any younger. I couldn't help but remember that the TV announcer for the Golden Gloves had said that Quarry had started boxing when he was seven, so I believed that I was about five years behind schedule. I used to think of how great it would be to start out in the same place, and train in the same gym as Quarry did, wherever that was.
One day I had this crazy idea. Why not call Jerry Quarry on the telephone and ask where he trains and how I could get my boxing career started. Of course, this would require a phone number. I remembered that Quarry had been introduced in the ring as being from Bellflower, so I called information and asked the operator for the number of a Jerry Quarry in Bellflower. She said she had one listing and it proved to be the right one. A few minutes later I was talking on the phone with Jerry Quarry.
I think Jerry was as surprised by my call as I was to get thru to him. I congratulated him on winning the Golden Gloves and asked where he started out. Jerry said he started when he was seven-years-old in a little gym behind the garage of Johnny Flores, the manager and trainer of quite a few top professional and amateurs boxers. I asked Jerry where this gym was and he said it was in the San Fernando Valley.
"The San Fernando Valley, I live in the Valley, where's the gym"? I asked. Quarry told me that "The Johnny Flores Gym" was in Pacoima, about a dozen miles from where I lived. I asked Jerry if Flores still worked with kids and was told that Johnny had several kids competing in amateur and junior amateur tournaments. Quarry told me that he was about to turn professional and that Flores would co-manage his career along with his father Jack. I asked when he would have his first fight and he told me that he would make his debut on the undercard of the Vicente Saldivar - Raul Rojas featherweight title fight at the L.A. Coliseum in a few weeks. I wished him luck and thanked him for the information. My grandfather had just retired and he and my father agreed to give me transportation to Flores Gym if I agreed to keep my grades up. Within a few weeks I was a member of the same boxing stable as my new idol, Jerry Quarry.
During the next six years I competed as an amateur and turned professional shortly after my 18th birthday. In 1970, the year of my pro debut, Quarry split from manager Johnny Flores. However, during the first six years of Jerry's pro career, I was one of the first to hear about what was going on behind the scenes in the world of heavyweight boxing.
After Quarry turned professional, he shifted his training headquarters from Flores' Gym to the Main Street Gym in downtown Los Angeles. On weekends, Johnny's gym was closed, so I'd hop on a bus early Saturday morning and workout at Main Street before the professionals took the floor. It was here that I was able to watch Jerry Quarry train as he moved up the ladder in the heavyweight division
Every weekend when Jerry worked out at the Main Street Gym, his entire family would turn out to watch. When I say entire family, I mean everybody. Jerry's parents, brothers & sisters, children and other's would fill the bleachers at one end of the gym. Jerry's mother Arawanda would pack a picnic basket and the family would make an event of it. This was something that used to irritate gym owner Howie Steindler. One day after the Quarrys left the gym, Steindler had to pick up paper plates, cups and napkins left by the Quarry brood. The gruff little Steindler finally posted a sign by the front door that read "THIS IS A BOXING GYM. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A PICNIC TAKE IT TO GRIFFITH PARK".
Watching Jerry spar with other heavyweights in the gym was always exciting to me. He boxed with a variety of fighters such as Amos "Big Train" Lincoln, Eddie "Boss Man" Jones and Joe "Shot Gun" Shelton to name a few. On occasion, he would even spar with welterweight contender Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez for speed. However, it seemed that the most brutal workouts were the sparring sessions between Jerry and his younger brother Mike, who was my age.
I remember once, shortly after Jerry had become rated among the top ten in the heavyweight division, he and Mike sparred together one Saturday morning. Mike was just 16 at the time and weighed about 160, thirty five pounds less than Jerry. Jerry cut down on his brother like he were fighting for the title and left Mike laying face down on the canvas. Mike had taken a brutal left hook to the body and thought the punch had broken his back. I could understand a fighter working hard when sparring but was surprised to see him cut down on his 16 year old brother like he did. It was no wonder why Mike Quarry adapted a jab-and-move boxing style when he fought. He had learned to keep his distance from his older brother or pay the price.
After winning his first twelve pro fights, eight by knockout, Jerry was held to a draw by another unbeaten heavyweight from Utah, Tony Doyle. He won his next three fights scoring two knockouts before being held to another draw by Tony Alongi. Jerry would get lazy in these fights and allow himself to fight on a dead even level with boxers that were nowhere near him in talent. This drew criticism from the fans and would drive Flores crazy. Jerry had tremendous talent, however, he also had a lazy streak that came out more than once during his career.
After the Alongi fight, Jerry's record was 15-0-2 (10 KO's) and he needed a victory that would impress the many L.A. boxing fans and journalists that were following his career. As he would do so many times in the future when
people doubted him, Jerry Quarry came alive. Jerry was matched with one of the most rugged heavyweight trial horses in the world, George "Scrap Iron" Johnson. Johnson had fought some of the best heavyweights in the world and had never been knocked down. Joe Frazier fought "Scrap Iron" early in his career and Johnson became the only man aside from Oscar Bonavena to go the distance with Frazier.
In the second round of Jerry's fight with "Scrap Iron", Johnson backed Quarry into a corner. The moment Jerry's back touched the turn buckle he cut loose with a vicious left hook that landed flush on Johnson's jaw and sent him reeling backwards across the ring. "Scrap Iron" spun around twice before hitting the ropes on the other side of the ring and went down flat on his back. Referee Lee Grossman didn't even bother to count.
The following month, Jerry returned to Kansas City where he had won his National Golden Gloves title and defeated Al Jones in a ten rounder. It was then back to L.A. for a rematch with Alongi and Flores was upset that Jerry was not taking him serious. Again, Quarry and Alongi fought to a draw. Flores was frustrated at his fighter and told Jerry that he would never reach the top ten unless he started taking things seriously. As far as Jerry was concerned he was still unbeaten and good enough to beat anybody in the world. In his next fight, he would learn differently.
Eddie Machen was considered an over-the-hill former contender that had been KO'ed by Ingemar Johansson in one round, half a dozen years earlier. At least that was Jerry's view. Machen was on a comeback and had recently upset another unbeaten L.A. heavyweight named Joey Orbillo. Quarry knew that he was better than Orbillo and took old Eddie Machen lightly. On July 15, 1966, Machen would hand Jerry Quarry his first professional loss via a unanimous ten round decision.
After a three month rest, Quarry finished 1966 with three straight wins and won three more in early 1967, including a ten round decision over Brian London whom had fought Muhammad Ali for the title the year before. About the time Quarry beat London, Ali was stripped of his Heavyweight title for failing to register for the Draft and the heavyweight title was suddenly vacant.
At this stage, The Ring Magazine rated Jerry Quarry just outside the top ten heavyweights in the world. For Quarry to break into that elite group he would have to defeat one. His next match would offer that chance. The man Quarry would be facing was not only a contender, he was a former World Champion. Floyd Patterson was not only a former champion, but the youngest to ever win the title and the only one ever to regain the title after losing it. These facts would be enough to inspire anybody to take the fight serious, however, the most motivating factor for Quarry was that Floyd Patterson was his idol.
Quarry trained hard for the Patterson fight and should have won. He had everything necessary to beat Patterson but showed the former champ too much respect and didn't follow up on several occasions when Floyd was hurt.
After ten rounds the decision was a draw.
A few months later Joe Frazier won the New York version of the Heavyweight title with a decision over Buster Mathis. However, few considered Frazier-Mathis as a valid title bout considering there were eight other heavyweights in the picture. I will never forget the smile on Johnny Flores' face the day he walked into his backyard gym and told us that he had learned that there was going to be an eight man elimination tournament to determine a successor to Muhammad Ali's title. The reason for Flores happiness was that his heavyweight, Jerry Quarry, would be among the eight.
In the quarter final round Quarry would be matched with Patterson in a rematch of their fight just four months previous. Jerry wanted a tune-up first and KO'ed Billy Daniels in one round at the Olympic Auditorium. Six
weeks later he would avenge his draw with Patterson and score a 12 round split decision over the former two-time champ.
Quarry's opponent in the semi-final round of the tournament would be Thad Spencer, the man who was favored to win the title. I remember that during the weeks leading up to this fight, Johnny Flores would talk about reports
he was getting regarding Spencer's conditioning. Flores had gotten word that Spencer was doing a lot of partying and taking Quarry lightly. This was a major mistake because Jerry was in top condition and ready. On February 3, 1968 Jerry Quarry gave Thad Spencer a one-sided beating before stopping him in the 12th and final round. Going into the championship final with Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry was a solid 8-to-5 favorite based on his exceptional performance against the heavily favored Spencer.
By now, the in-fighting between Jerry's father Jack and Johnny Flores had been going on for months. Flores was one of boxing's shrewdest and most respected managers in boxing. Jack had been a problem from day one. He had no experience in dealing with boxing promoters and had no business being included in the management of his son. He insisted Jerry make him co-manager along with Flores so he could keep an eye on things. His only responsibility was to make sure that Jerry got up every morning early to do his road work. Unfortunately, Jack Quarry rarely got up early enough to wake his son.
In Jerry's first shot at the heavyweight title, he made the mistake of trying to out box Jimmy Ellis and dropped a boring fifteen round decision. After the decision was announced, Quarry grabbed the microphone from the ring announcer and dramatically announced his retirement from boxing in the middle of the ring. Jerry was only 23 and I remember thinking, "give me a break", as I watched this on TV. After the disappointing performance Jerry had put on that night, nobody cared.
Seven months later Quarry was back in the ring and KO'ed trial horse Bob Mumford in Phoenix. After winning four straight with three knockouts Quarry made his Madison Square Garden debut with an impressive twelve round decision victory over Buster Mathis. Jerry Quarry was back in the heavyweight spot light and three months later would return to the Garden for another shot at the Heavyweight title. This time, Quarry would be facing one of the best heavyweights to ever step into the ring, Joe Frazier.
I will never forget this fight. I was seventeen years old at the time and had watched it develop from day one. My closest friend, amateur heavyweight Alan "Kit" Boursse' would travel to New York with Flores and Quarry to serve as a sparring partner. Jerry set up training camp in the Catskills at the legendary Grossingers Resort where many boxing greats of the past, such as Rocky Marciano, trained for championship fights at the Garden. I would get weekly reports back home from Boursse' who told me that Jerry was in top shape and had injured every sparring partner in camp but himself. "Jerry's punching the crap out of everybody they bring in here and I don't know how I've avoided getting hurt", Boursse reported. "He's going to surprise everybody that thinks he hasn't a chance with Frazier. Jerry is likely to knock him out".
I had high hopes for Jerry Quarry the night he stepped into the ring with Joe Frazier for their first fight. Jerry was ready and, as always, so was Frazier. In the first round I think Jerry shocked everybody, especially Frazier, by going right to Smokin Joe and backing him up. Quarry had Frazier reeling from an all-out attack and there was the smell of an upset in the air. Jerry fought Frazier tough and I'll never forget the people in the theatre watching it on closed circuit TV jumping to their feet and cheering Quarry during the first few rounds. However, by the 7th round Frazier had taken control of the match and stopped Jerry. Jerry had given his best and I was disappointed he didn't win. To add insult to injury, after the bout, the I.R.S. invaded Quarry's dressing room and served he, his father Jack and trainer Teddy Bentham with tax bills. They announced that back taxes for all three would be garnished from the purse. The only one in Jerry's camp that was not served with a tax bill was Flores. Jack Quarry was furious that he would have to pay back taxes out of his cut and noticed that the feds were not bothering Flores. "What About him!" Jack shouted, pointing at Flores. The agent looked at Jack and answered "Mr. Flores has paid his taxes and is not involved in this".
This was the beginning of the end of Flores' association with Quarry. Jerry would fight three more times in 1969, scoring two KO's prior to returning to Madison Square Garden in December to face George Chuvalo. Chuvalo was the rugged Canadian who had fought Ali for the title five years earlier and was known as a catcher. Jerry went into the bout a heavy favorite and in good shape. Of all the disappointing moments in Jerry Quarry's career this was the most surprising of all. As expected, Jerry had his way with Chuvalo and handed him a one sided beating. Thru the first six rounds Quarry had staggered Chuvalo repeatedly and in the 7th had Chuvalo ready to go. After staggering the Canadian Jerry got careless and caught a left hook on the chin. The blow caught Jerry off balance and sent him to the canvas. Jerry was not hurt but the referee had to call it a knockdown. Instead of Quarry jumping to his feet quickly to show he wasn't hurt, he foolishly decided it would be a good time to take a breather until the count of eight. Jerry was resting in a kneeling position but when the count reached eight he remained on one knee and was counted out. Jerry's excuse was that he couldn't hear the count and the fans went crazy. I still remember how disgusted Flores was when he returned to California after the fight. At this point Flores and Jerry were no longer speaking and Johnny would never again work his fighters corner.
Jack Quarry had convinced his son to drop Johnny Flores. However, Flores still had two years remaining of a seven year contract signed by the fighter upon his turning professional. Jack Quarry didn't pay much attention to
contracts and attempted to sign with promoters for fights involving his son. He soon discovered that the contracts were no good without Flores' signature and that promoters had no time to do business with an idiot like Jack Quarry.
This infuriated the elder Quarry and Jerry as well. As wrong as it was to alienate himself from Flores, Jerry made one smart move at the time and that was to get rid of his father. Unlike Flores' contract, Jack Quarry's
contract with his son had expired two years previous and had never been renewed. Johnny Flores would still be entitled to one half of 33.3% of all of Jerry's future earnings until 1972. The father would be entitled to exactly what he deserved, nothing.
At the time Jerry had become friendly with a very well known Los Angeles attorney known for his underworld connections. It was no secret that Quarry was upset over having to honor Flores' share of future purses and a few months later Flores' became the target of an attempted contract hit involving two off-duty Los Angeles police officers. The attempt upon Flores' life was a failure and never connected to Quarry directly. The L.A.P.D. was able to play the incident off as a case of "mistaken identity" but Flores sued the City of Los Angeles and settled out of court.
After winning four straight in 1970 with three KO's Jerry would become Muhammad Ali's first opponent after three years of inactivity. The bout was held in Atlanta on October 26th and Ali had no trouble using Quarry as a
target, stopping Jerry in three rounds.
After winning his next six fights, Quarry challenged Ali a second time in 1972 and once again was stopped, in seven rounds this time. Jerry opened 1973 with a 7th round knockout over Randy Neumann and the following month was matched with Ron Lyle. Lyle was an unbeaten knockout artist and was considered the next Sonny Liston. Quarry entered the match an underdog and not expected to beat the thunderous punching Lyle. As so many times before in the career of Jerry Quarry, he rose to the occasion and easily defeated Lyle over twelve rounds at Madison Square Garden.
Ten months later, after scoring two more knockouts Quarry was matched with another unbeaten knockout puncher, Earnie Shavers.
Quarry was considered to be on the down side of his career despite his beating Lyle earlier in the year. People would say "Quarry just can't win the big ones", and Shavers was expected to win. Once again Jerry Quarry
defied popular opinion and this time did it convincingly. He knocked out Earnie Shavers in the first round, setting up a rematch with Joe Frazier.
The previous year, Frazier had the lost the title to George Foreman and had just lost his second fight with Ali. Quarry was hot and Frazier had lost his last two. Quarry fans believed that this might be Jerry's fight. However,
after five rounds Quarry was finished and the bout was stopped.
Quarry's ring career came to an end on March 24, 1975 he was KO'ed by Ken Norton in five rounds at Madison Square Garden.
Quarry wisely announced his retirement from boxing after the Norton fight and was immediately hired by CBS to announce their televised fights. This was an ideal situation for Quarry because he was articulate and the fans loved his analysis of fighters and matches. Jerry was able to provide something in the broadcast that other sports announcers could not and that was a fighter's perspective of a match. After years of Howard Cosell's nonsense on ABC, Quarry was a welcome alternative and CBS could not have been happier.
Two years later, after establishing himself with CBS, Quarry was having thoughts of a comeback at age 32. When CBS got word of Jerry's intentions they immediately were supportive of their announcer's decision to fight again and wanted to televise his comeback on their network. They told Quarry that if it was successful, great. However, if it did not go well he would be able to step right back into his job at the mike. However, they wanted to have an option on the TV rights to his first fight and offered him $250,000.
This is where it became evident that Jerry Quarry was no wiser a business man than his father Jack. When Quarry learned that ABC was willing to pay $300,00 to televise his comeback, Quarry took the greater offer and signed with ABC. On November 5, 1977 Jerry returned to the ring in a scheduled ten round bout that appeared on ABC. Jerry fought a light hitting nobody named Lorenzo Zanon in Las Vegas and took a beating from the opening bell until finally catching the Italian with a left hook in the 9th round. Luckily, Zanon went down from the hook and couldn't (or wouldn't) get up. Had the fight gone the distance Quarry would have lost. Jerry realized he
was thru and retired once again.
About this time I stopped by Johnny Flores' house with Kit Boursse', my friend who'd been Jerry's sparring partner years earlier. Flores' told us that after the fight Quarry tried to get his job back with CBS but the network was so angry at him for giving ABC the television right to his comeback they were no longer interested in him.
The last time I saw Jerry Quarry was in 1983. I was living in Westalke Village, California and I knew that Jerry had a home in Agoura Hills, just a few miles away. One day a friend of mine who worked in a local restaurant
called me to say that a couple of boxers were sitting at the counter and they said they knew me. "Who are they?" I asked. "Jerry and Mike Quarry". I immediately drove to the restaurant and talked with Jerry and Mike for about an hour. Jerry seemed the same as always and I didn't notice any signs of dementia at the time. However, Mike looked like a beat up old fighter and was slurring his words. I'd run into Jerry several times over the years but hadn't seen Mike since before he was KO'ed in a world title fight by Bob Foster. I could tell that Mike was different and it made me feel bad because he was always the best looking and sharpest of the Quarry brothers.
Jerry was 38 years old at the time and very overweight. A couple of months later I was shocked to learn that he'd had a fight in Albuquerque and had scored a first round knockout. A few months later he won again by decision in a ten rounder in Bakersfield, California. However, Jerry retired again and I hoped that this time it was for good. Unfortunately it wasn't. Nine years later at the age of 47 Jerry Quarry lost a six round fight in Colorado to some nobody. This would be Jerry's last boxing match, however, it would not be his last fight.
Jerry's biggest challenge would come in the form of Dementia Puglistica. The night I tuned into ESPN hoping to hear the result of a fight, I had no idea it would be the result of Jerry Quarry's last fight.
Today when I think of Jerry Quarry I don't picture him with dementia, or bleeding from a cut after a bout with Muhammad Ali. I see the Jerry Quarry that excited thousands of boxing fans as he fought his way into the
heavyweight picture at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. I see the Quarry that sent "Scrap Iron" Johnson flying across the ring before falling unconscious to the canvas. I see Jerry going toe-to-toe with Joe Frazier and
having the best of it in the early rounds. I see Earnie Shavers unable to make it thru the first round with Jerry. And I can still hear the voice of the 1965 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion telling me where I can
find my dream and make it come true.
Rest in peace Jerry Quarry . . . and Thank You.[/quote]
Nice article. But before you publish it, you might change your description of Shavers. He wasn't undefeated when he fought Quarry. Shavers lost a couple of early fights - one a decision and the other a knockout loss to Ron Stander in 1970.
I always thought Quarry's best win was his demolition of Mac Foster - a dominating performance and proof that Jerry could win the big ones. After that, you could never afford to underestimate Jerry Quarry.
Happy Memorial Day to all my pals on CAWCB. Frank, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. The way the weather goes back and forth between cool, warm, hot and cold again, doesn't help any.
On the subject of Ali vs Dempsey: as I have mentioned before, Dempsey was my boyhood idol. The epitome of a fighter in any weight but especially a heavyweight, in the "Roaring 20's". Dynamite in his fist, granite chin and a heart to match. Ali, a much heavier heavyweight and faster but without a huge knockout punch, though on the right night he could take you out but he was not a one punch knockout artist. In his earlier years, despite his lack of a "correct" boxing defense, he was a hard man to connect with. As Angelo Dundee once said and I'm paraphrasing "Ali does everything wrong but he does it better than anyone else". In his later years, the doing it wrong bit caught up to him. Ali never really learned to slip a punch correctly. He became a much more flat footed fighter. Though he did slow down considerably, he was still faster than most. Like a lot of champions, he fought his share of bums and he had a few gift decisions. Thee is no denying it. Still, Ali always fought with a big heart. There was no quit in him.
In George Foreman, he fought one of the hardest hitting heavyweight of any era. Dempsey hit hard but I believe punch for punch, Big George hit harder. I can't offer any scientific proof, it's just my opinion. I agree almost 100% with Rick on Larry Holmes, I'm just not 100% as certain as Rick, that Holmes wins every time.
That's the way I see it with Dempsey too. I'm of the belief that on any given night, any given fighter can win or lose, and Dempsey and Ali are no exceptions. If Ali and Dempsey fought 10 times I think Ali wins more times than Dempsey but he would not win them all. At the very least, you have to think that Dempsey gives Ali the same kind of trouble that Joe Frazier did, only more so.
Discussing fighters from different eras? I love it. Yeah, there are a lot of variables but it's all in fun and as far as I'm concerned it's a big part of the fun. With that in mind - the fighter I would like to have seen Dempsey fight more than any other is Rocky Marciano. Do I even need to qualify that?
Last edited by Randyman on 30 May 2011, 23:24, edited 2 times in total.
Rick Farris wrote:Memorial Day trivia:
Boyle Heights, East L.A. was the home of the largest number of soldiers to die in Viet Nam.
No zip code in the U.S. lost more citizens to that war.
raylawpc wrote:Nice article. But before you publish it, you might change your description of Shavers. He wasn't undefeated when he fought Quarry. Shavers lost a couple of early fights - one a decision and the other a knockout loss to Ron Stander in 1970.
I always thought Quarry's best win was his demolition of Mac Foster - a dominating performance and proof that Jerry could win the big ones. After that, you could never afford to underestimate Jerry Quarry.
It was published a dozen years ago, the first story I ever wrote. There are several typos I didn't edit.
It was in Boxing World magazine, as well as the Cyber Boxing Zone.
Steve Springer, author of the recently released, "HARD LUCK, The Triumph and Tragedy of Jerry Quarry" quoted me from this story, and was kind enough to credit me as his source.
raylawpc wrote:Nice article. But before you publish it, you might change your description of Shavers. He wasn't undefeated when he fought Quarry. Shavers lost a couple of early fights - one a decision and the other a knockout loss to Ron Stander in 1970.
I always thought Quarry's best win was his demolition of Mac Foster - a dominating performance and proof that Jerry could win the big ones. After that, you could never afford to underestimate Jerry Quarry.
Mac Foster & Quarry . . .
We in L.A. learned you couldn't underestimate Jerry Quarry long before Mac Foster.
But I agree that this was a great win for Jerry over an unbeaten contender (24-0, 24 KO's) and exciting.
After that fight, Quarry split with Johnny Flores, and several months later, Mac Foster joined our stable.
Flores put former featherweight contender Dwight Hawkins in charge of training both Foster and myself.
I enjoyed my brief association with Mac Foster. I recall he and I lacing our boxing shoes in Flores dressing room at the Main Street Gym.
It was there I saw up close the bullet wounds that Mac Foster had suffered in Viet Nam.
I asked him how it happened and he said he was on patrol, there was an ambush, and gunfire came from the side of the road, hitting his legs.
He was quite a guy, did two tours in Viet Nam. What a great day to remember the name Mac Foster, Memorial Day!
Rick Farris wrote:Memorial Day trivia:
Boyle Heights, East L.A. was the home of the largest number of soldiers to die in Viet Nam.
No zip code in the U.S. lost more citizens to that war.
Wow, what a way to end my Memorial Day here. Thought I would sign on here after spending the morning with a handful of WW II veterans from my local American Legion Hall here in town. The Legion Hall is next door to one of the town's volunteer firehouses where I held the rank of Captain until 1989.
Every Memorial Day & Independence Day my town has a parade and I usually attend.
About as homemade American mid-size town as you can get.
A wreath laying ceremony is then held at the American Legion Hall for those veterans from the town who gave their lives greatly for our nation.
Then the fire Dept holds a wreath laying at a fireman bronze statue that sits in front of its HQ's next door honoring the 5 Firefighters who gave their lives in our town and the 5 of the Town's volunteers FF's who were also NYC Fireman who were killed at the 9-11 WTC event.
All heroes and a solemn rememberance.
Thank You Frank on Johnny Flores Army story. Absolutely incredible. Hero is not a term I use lightly. He and other WW II vets are put into situations and remain calm & cool.
God Bless Johnny Flores for actions above the call of duty.RIP Johnny.
Rick, Thank You sir on your Jerry Quarry rememberance. I have not seen that before. Very enlightning. I am finishing up some books I started and plan on getting to Quarry's book next. Thank You again.
If you are a Veteran of the Armed Services or active duty and reading this, Thank You for your service, I am grateful, and God Bless.
Randyman wrote:Happy Memorial Day to all my pals on CAWCB. Frank, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. The way the weather goes back and forth between cool, warm, hot and cold again, doesn't help any.
Been feeling like crap with what I think is the flu. I have 26 days before the CBHOF to get better, if I don't I might just have to stay home that day, don't say anything to Don Fraser or he'll sell my table from under me..... Thanks Randy....
Rick, Great piece on Jerry Quarry, i remember my dad telling me about the time Quarry fought Jack Bodell at Wembley in 1971, after Knocking out Bodell in the first round a commentator asked Quarry if he found Bodell awkward, Jerry's reply no, but he sure fell awkward....
raylawpc wrote:Nice article. But before you publish it, you might change your description of Shavers. He wasn't undefeated when he fought Quarry. Shavers lost a couple of early fights - one a decision and the other a knockout loss to Ron Stander in 1970.
I always thought Quarry's best win was his demolition of Mac Foster - a dominating performance and proof that Jerry could win the big ones. After that, you could never afford to underestimate Jerry Quarry.
Mac Foster & Quarry . . .
We in L.A. learned you couldn't underestimate Jerry Quarry long before Mac Foster.
But I agree that this was a great win for Jerry over an unbeaten contender (24-0, 24 KO's) and exciting.
After that fight, Quarry split with Johnny Flores, and several months later, Mac Foster joined our stable.
Flores put former featherweight contender Dwight Hawkins in charge of training both Foster and myself.
I enjoyed my brief association with Mac Foster. I recall he and I lacing our boxing shoes in Flores dressing room at the Main Street Gym.
It was there I saw up close the bullet wounds that Mac Foster had suffered in Viet Nam.
I asked him how it happened and he said he was on patrol, there was an ambush, and gunfire came from the side of the road, hitting his legs.
He was quite a guy, did two tours in Viet Nam. What a great day to remember the name Mac Foster, Memorial Day!
But not everybody is from LA . . . Quarry needed the win against Foster to restore his status as an serious contender with the rest of the USA and world. And he delivered in spectacular fashion.
Randyman wrote:Happy Memorial Day to all my pals on CAWCB. Frank, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. The way the weather goes back and forth between cool, warm, hot and cold again, doesn't help any.
Been feeling like crap with what I think is the flu. I have 26 days before the CBHOF to get better, if I don't I might just have to stay home that day, don't say anything to Don Fraser or he'll sell my table from under me..... Thanks Randy....
Cholo wrote:Rick, Great piece on Jerry Quarry, i remember my dad telling me about the time Quarry fought Jack Bodell at Wembley in 1971, after Knocking out Bodell in the first round a commentator asked Quarry if he found Bodell awkward, Jerry's reply no, but he sure fell awkward....
Randyman wrote:Happy Memorial Day to all my pals on CAWCB. Frank, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. The way the weather goes back and forth between cool, warm, hot and cold again, doesn't help any.
Been feeling like crap with what I think is the flu. I have 26 days before the CBHOF to get better, if I don't I might just have to stay home that day, don't say anything to Don Fraser or he'll sell my table from under me..... Thanks Randy....
Frank you must get yourself to the Doc's, I fish here in UK & we are very aware of a disease called Weils Disease it is very prevalent near water & is caused by rats urine & can be fatal
It has flu like symptoms, so if you haven't been yet don't delay get to the Docs, I'm not wishing to alarm you but better save than sorry
Cholo wrote:Rick, Great piece on Jerry Quarry, i remember my dad telling me about the time Quarry fought Jack Bodell at Wembley in 1971, after Knocking out Bodell in the first round a commentator asked Quarry if he found Bodell awkward, Jerry's reply no, but he sure fell awkward....
I don't know if I could agree with Jerry Quarry on that . . . I thought Bodell fell quite gracefully. There was a perfect symmetry as both knees buckled at exactly the same time . . . and his body hit the canvas in perfect order . . . butt, then back, then back of head. In fact, the knockout was the only time Bodell showed any gracefulness!
An obviously upset Irish Catholic woman visits her priest. She pleads, "Father, Father, my children just will not stop cursing. I've done everything I know to stop them. You're my last hope, what can I do?"
The Father said "Well, have you considered smacking the boys?"
The mother, wide-eyed, replied, "Oh no Father, I thought the Church would frown upon that!"
The Father responded, "In severe cases, we do allow it. The next time your sons curse, why don't you try it?"
The mother said "O.K. Father, If the Church permits it."
The next morning little Pat and little Mike come down to breakfast and the mother asks, "Pat, what would you like for breakfast this morning?"
Pat says, "I don't know. Give me some f*cking waffles." With that, the mother smacked him across the face and he slid down the wall to the floor. Little Mike, the younger of the boys, watched in horror.
The mother turned and asked ,"Mike, what would you like for breakfast this morning?"
Mike looks at his brother on the floor, looks back at his mother, and replies, "I don't know but you can bet your arse I don't want no f*cking waffles."
There's a guy who's in the market for a used motorcycle. He's shopping around, answering ads in the newspaper, and not having much luck. One day he comes across a beautiful classic Harley with a "for sale" sign on it. Upon inspection, he is amazed to find the bike in mint condition. He inquires about it with the owner:
"This bike is beautiful! I'll take it. But you gotta tell me how you keep it in such good shape. "Well," says the seller, "it's pretty simple. Just make sure that if the bike is outside and it's going to rain, rub Vaseline on the chrome. It protects it from the rain. In fact, since you're buying the bike I won't need my tube of Vaseline anymore. Here, you can have it." and he hands the buyer a tube of Vaseline.
So the guy buys the bike and off he goes, a happy biker. He takes the bike over to show his girlfriend. She's ecstatic (being a Harley fan).
That night, he decides to ride the bike over to his girlfriend's parents' house. It's the first time he's going to meet them and figures it will make a big impression. When the couple gets to the house, the girlfriend grabs her boyfriend's arm.
"Honey," she says, "I gotta tell you something about my parents before we go in. When we eat dinner, we don't talk. In fact, the person who says anything during dinner has to do the dishes."
"No problem," he says. And in they go.
The boyfriend is astounded. Right smack in the middle of the living room is a huge stack of dirty dishes. In the family room, another huge stack of dishes. Piled up the stairs, dirty dishes. In fact, everywhere he looks, dirty dishes. They sit down to dinner and, sure enough, no one says a word.
As dinner progresses, the boyfriend decides to take advantage of the situation. So he leans over and kisses his girlfriend. No one says a word. So he decides to reach over and fondle her breasts. He looks at her parents, but still they keep quiet.
So he stands up, grabs his girlfriend, strips her naked, and they make love right on the dinner table. Still, no one says a word.
"Her Mom's kinda cute", he thinks. So he grabs his girlfriend's Mom and has his way with her right there on the dinner table. Again, total silence.
Then, a few raindrops hit the window and the boyfriend realizes it's starting to rain. He figures he'd better take care of the motorcycle, so he pulls the Vaseline from his pocket. Suddenly the father stands up and shouts: "All right, all right! I'll do the damn dishes."
I went with my friend Karl Nelson to this one. We didn't attend the fight live, we saw it on Closed Circuit TV from the Anaheim Convention Center.
Jerry was a heavy underdog, which I knew meant he was likely to be very dangerous. I'd laid down a few quid on my old stablemate, believing he might stretch Earnie Shavers.
I'd seen Shavers flatten Jim Elder in the 1969 AAU Finals in San Diego, a few years earlier. He brought his heavy hands into the pro ranks, but he was fighting Jerry.
I had a feeling Jerry would upset the odds, but when he did so in less than a round I was very happy.
As Karl and I left the building, we see Jack Quarry standing at the front door, shaking hands and taking bows after his son's victory.
He was standing next to a red head with more chins than a chinese phone book, looked like she put her make-up on with a trowl. Both were gassed.
As we approached Pa Quarry and his trollup, Karl asked, "Why is he watching his son's fight on closed-circuit, he should be there?
I told Karl that Jerry and his father were no longer talking, and I suggested we move to another exit before he spots me.
Nobody seemed to know who the drunk man was at the door, smiling like he just won the lottery.
Before we could change directions, Jack Quarry spotted a familiar face, mine. "Hey Farris . . . "
I went over and shook Jack's hand and congratulated him on Jerry's win. I also introduced him to my friend, who also congratulated him on Jerry's win.
The lady's red hair was all over Jack's dark jacket, which made me think she might be shedding.
We went on our way, and I recall thinking back to the mid-60's when I first met Jack Quarry. "There is no quit in a Quarry!" was what Jack used to say.
May all the late Quarry's rest in Peace. It was tough to be a Quarry.
Just as Jack Dempsey was in his era, long before TV. 
, sure feels like it, haven't seen a doctor for it yet, I don't know what the hell am waiting for.... :x
