51 Facts About Jerry Quarry

Jerry Quarry, nicknamed "Irish" or "The Bellflower Bomber", was an American professional boxer.

Unable to perform everyday tasks, dependent on his family, and with the fortune he had earned frittered away, Jerry Quarry died at 53 years old.

Jerry Quarry's family includes three other pro boxers.

Jerry Quarry fought first as a Junior Amateur, winning his first trophies at the age of eight.

Jerry Quarry came to notice by winning the 1965 National Golden Gloves championship in Kansas City at age 19.

Jerry Quarry supplemented meager boxing pay by working as a tire changer at a Greyhound bus terminal.

Jerry Quarry had three draws on his record by the time of his first loss, which came in his 21st bout in July 1966 against crafty spoiler Eddie Machen, known for his feat of breaking Sonny Liston's run of knockouts.

Jerry Quarry had various television roles in series TV of the period.

Jerry Quarry's first tournament bout was a rematch of his fourth draw fight earlier that year against former world champion Floyd Patterson.

In both matches, Jerry Quarry dominated the early rounds with multiple knockdowns of Patterson, but faded in the latter stages.

Jerry Quarry hung on better in the second bout, and was given a split-decision victory.

Jerry Quarry's second tournament match was a KO win against fellow Californian Thad Spencer, who was highly lauded and ranked coming into the match.

Jerry Quarry met Frazier June, 23rd, 1969 at New York City's Madison Square Garden, where Jerry Quarry could count on fan support.

Jerry Quarry was well ahead, when in the seventh round, Chuvalo knocked Jerry Quarry down.

Jerry Quarry rose at the count of four, then took a knee but on rising exactly at the count of ten, he found referee Zach Clayton ruled a KO.

Jerry Quarry returned quickly after the controversial loss to Chuvalo to post another streak of wins.

Jerry Quarry was the only one willing to face him, and so got the nod for the first bout against Ali in his return.

Jerry Quarry was able to land only a handful of punches, most of them glancing blows.

Trainer Teddy Bentham, a veteran cutman, realized the cut was too severe for Jerry Quarry to continue, even though he argued to continue.

Jerry Quarry disputed the decision and demanded a rematch against Ali, which he would later receive.

Jerry Quarry focused on television roles during this period, appearing on a number of television shows.

Jerry Quarry's second fight there during this streak was against Larry Middleton.

Jerry Quarry finally was allowed that rematch a month after the Middleton bout.

At the opening bell, Jerry Quarry rushed Ali, got under his shoulders and lifted him briefly off the canvas before referee Mike Kaplan separated the fighters.

Visibly tired at the end of the 6th round, Jerry Quarry came out for the seventh and was hit by a half-dozen shots by Ali, who waved the referee in to stop the fight, which Jerry Quarry protested.

Jerry Quarry seemed to mature as a fighter here, and 1973 was perhaps his greatest year as a heavyweight.

Jerry Quarry later claimed to have dodged Quarry, whom he never formally met in the ring.

Jerry Quarry later claimed to be 'locked out' of big-opportunity fights in 1974 by King, and found himself desperately looking for quality opponents that might get him a title shot.

Jerry Quarry was the same size as at their first bout, but Frazier, now 212 pounds, was bigger.

Jerry Quarry attempted to box Frazier this time, but due to the years of punishment, even in the recent wins against hard hitters Lyle and Shavers, he was more open to Frazier's shots and less mobile than he used to be.

Jerry Quarry was already on wobbly legs when Frazier dropped with a hard left hook to the stomach just before the bell ending the 4th round.

Jerry Quarry was visibly injured by the blow, but tried unsuccessfully to continue.

Jerry Quarry had made millions in the ring without ever being champion at a time when few had ever made that much money in boxing.

Jerry Quarry continued his television acting work, and had by now briefly helped road-manage the rock band Three Dog Night.

When first choices Oscar Bonavena and Jimmy Young bowed out with injuries, Jerry Quarry was placed into the Norton bout on 18 days notice.

Jerry Quarry was cut badly in the 3rd round, and attacked Norton so he would have a chance to win before the fight was stopped.

Jerry Quarry retired for over two and a half years after the Norton fight.

Jerry Quarry had two losses each to Frazier and Ali plus one apiece to Norton, Chuvalo, Ellis and Eddie Machen to this point.

Jerry Quarry had been ranked as high as the No 1 contender three times.

At around this time, Jerry Quarry signed a contract with the ABC to be a boxing commentator.

Jerry Quarry, weighing 209, looked slow and a shell of his former self, was clearly outboxed over seven rounds by Zanon.

Jerry Quarry lost a great deal of his fortune in failed business investments.

Jerry Quarry was already beginning to show the effects of his lengthy boxing career.

Jerry Quarry suffered from dementia pugilistica, atrophy of the brain from repeated blows to the head.

Jerry Quarry retired again and was inactive as a boxer from 1984 to 1992, but Quarry continued to decline physically and mentally.

At age 47 years and 6 months old, Jerry Quarry provided nothing more than a 6-round punching bag for the younger fighter, losing all six rounds and the decision.

Jerry Quarry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jerry Quarry was hospitalized with pneumonia on December 28,1998, and then suffered cardiac arrest.

Jerry Quarry never regained consciousness and died on January 3,1999, at the age of 53.

Jerry Quarry's body was interred at Shafter Cemetery in Shafter, California.

Jerry Quarry could have been a world champion, but he cut too easily.