View source for Jerry Quarry

{{Short description|American boxer (1945–1999)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=May 2010}}
{{COI|date=November 2022}}
}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name=Jerry Quarry
|nickname=Irish <br />The Bellflower Bomber<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-04-sp-60287-story.html|title=Boxer Quarry Is Dead|website=Los Angeles Times|date=June 22, 2006 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>
|height=6 ft 0 in
|reach=72 in
|weight={{plainlist|
*[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
*[[Heavyweight]]
}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1945|5|15}}
|birth_place=[[Bakersfield, California]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1999|1|3|1945|5|15}}
|death_place= [[Templeton, California]], U.S.
|style=[[orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total=66
|wins=53
|losses=9
|draws=4
|KO=32
|image=Jerry_Quarry_after_winning_the_fight_against_Thad_Spencer.jpg
|caption = Quarry in 1968, after winning his fight against [[Thad Spencer]]
|}}

'''Jerry Quarry''' (May 15, 1945 – January 3, 1999), nicknamed "Irish" or "the [[Bellflower, California|Bellflower]] Bomber" or the "Great White Hope", was an American [[professional boxer]] and multiple heavyweight boxing title contender.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-28-sp-613-story.html|title=BOXING : Quarry Evokes Images of What Might Have Been|website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 28, 1990 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref> During the peak of his career from 1968 to 1971, Quarry was a popular figure in boxing, featured on the cover[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] and other boxing magazines, as well as on hit TV shows.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jerry Quarry {{!}} Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1620897/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> His most famous bouts were against [[Muhammad Ali]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-05-9901050116-story.html |title=Punches Took Deadly Toll On Quarry – tribunedigital-chicagotribune |website=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=January 5, 1999 |access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> He is regarded as being one of the best heavyweight boxers never to win a title.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WBN |date=December 2, 2022 |title=Top Ten heavyweight knockout pulverizers never to win a world title |url=https://www.worldboxingnews.com/heavyweight-ko-world-champion/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=WBN – World Boxing News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2011 |title=The Five Greatest Heavyweights Who Never Became World Champion |url=https://www.boxing247.com/weblog/archives/136064 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=www.boxing247.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Jerry Quarry: He Had All The Tools to Become a Champion |url=https://sportshistorynetwork.com/boxing/jerry-quarry/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Sports History Network |language=en-US}}</ref> He beat former world heavyweight champion [[Floyd Patterson]] and top contenders [[Ron Lyle]], [[Earnie Shavers]], [[Brian London]], [[Thad Spencer]], [[Buster Mathis]], [[Randy Neumann]], [[Jack Bodell]], [[Mac Foster]] and [[Eduardo Corletti]]. The damage he accumulated from lack of attention to defense against larger men at the top level, no head guard sparring, and attempted comebacks in 1977, 1983, and 1992 resulted in Quarry developing an unusually severe case of [[dementia pugilistica]].

==Boxing career==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2022}}

===Early life===
Quarry's family includes three other pro boxers (his father and two brothers).<ref>{{cite news|author=Bob Mee |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-jerry-quarry-1045085.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220608/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-jerry-quarry-1045085.html |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obituary: Jerry Quarry &#124; Culture |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lidz |first=Franz |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1968/02/12/546787/a-brand-new-jerry-quarry-wins-the-big-one |title=A Brand New Jerry Quarry Wins The Big One |website=Si.com |access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> The brother known as [[Mike Quarry]] would even go on to be a light-heavyweight boxing contender. Jerry's father first put gloves on his son when Jerry was five years. Jerry 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.

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. Quarry had over 200 fights in his amateur career. He turned professional in 1965.

===In 1960s===
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 became established as a draw. Quarry supplemented meager boxing pay by working as a tire changer at a [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] bus terminal. He 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.

Quarry had various television roles in series TV of the period. One notable role was as himself, in the episode "The Strongest Man In The World" of ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'', which aired on November 18, 1968.

==== Championship Tournament ====
In mid-1967, the [[World Boxing Association]] (W.B.A.) held a tournament to replace [[Muhammad Ali]], who had been stripped of his title for refusing induction into the military after being [[conscription|drafted]]. The tournament was expanded to include eight heavyweights, and did not include Joe Frazier, who had accepted a title belt outside the WBA.

When the tournament was expanded, Quarry was included. 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, Quarry dominated the early rounds with multiple knockdowns of Patterson, but faded in the latter stages. He hung on better in the second bout, and was given a split-decision victory. His second tournament match was a KO win against fellow Californian [[Thad Spencer]], who was highly lauded and ranked coming into the match. In the final against crafty ex-middleweight [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]], Quarry prior to the bout sustained a broken back from an injury on the diving board at a pool that later developed into gangrene.

Ellis was wary of Quarry's unorthodox tactic (displayed to great effect against Patterson) of retreating into the ropes then catching his opponent with a sudden two-fisted attack and  Quarry lost a majority decision. After a layoff of six months, Quarry returned after the Ellis loss to post another streak of wins. Notable among these was a lopsided 12-round decision win over 1964 U.S. Olympian [[Buster Mathis]]. The win over the ranked (and much bigger) Mathis positioned Quarry for his second title shot.

==== Frazier and Chuvalo ====
[[Joe Frazier]] had not yet KO'd Ellis, but was considered by many to be the most legitimate heavyweight champion. Quarry met Frazier June, 23rd, 1969 at New York City's [[Madison Square Garden]], where Quarry could count on fan support. Back in Quarry's home state of California, ''[[The San Bernardino Sun|The San Bernardino County Sun]]'' proclaimed him the latest "[[Great White Hope (disambiguation)|Great White Hope]]".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Routledge |first1=Russell |title=Ali: The Fight America Didn't Want |date=April 15, 2018 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4456-7451-3 |page=146 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uq2IDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT146 |access-date=February 27, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Frazier's high-tempo pressure came to dominate the fight. In the 7th round, Quarry was bleeding from his nose and had a very large cut under his eye when he took a series of hard punches without moving away or hitting back. The fight was stopped with a Frazier TKO. [[The Ring (magazine)|Ring Magazine]] named it the fight of the year.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grasso |first1=John |title=Historical Dictionary of Boxing |date=November 14, 2013 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7867-9 |page=330 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=njefAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA330 |access-date=February 27, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Returning quickly after the loss to Frazier, Quarry won two bouts before meeting [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[George Chuvalo]] in December 1969. The bout against Chuvalo, then unranked, would be the subject of controversy. Quarry was well ahead, when in the seventh round, Chuvalo knocked Quarry down. 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.

===In 1970s===
Quarry returned quickly after the controversial loss to Chuvalo to post another streak of wins.
Noteworthy among them was a 6th-round KO win over fellow Californian [[Mac Foster]]. Foster came into the bout ranked #1 with a record of 24–0, with all 24 wins by KO. Quarry was ranked #6, and weighed 195 for the bout. Foster weighed 215. It was a very impressive, dominating win by Quarry which figured to put him back in line for another title shot.

At this time, exiled former champion [[Muhammad Ali]] had successfully sued to win the right to return as a professional boxer. Ali approached every one of the ten ranked heavyweights for a match. Quarry was the only one willing to face him, and so got the nod for the first bout against Ali in his return. The bout received tremendous publicity and arguably remains today as Quarry's most famous bout.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/181567-ali-quarry-remembered |title=Ali-Quarry remembered – Ring TV |website=Ringtv.craveonline.com |date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303003955/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/181567-ali-quarry-remembered |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref>

The bout took place at the [[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta)|City Auditorium]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] on October 26, 1970. Ali dominated the first two rounds, moving well and scoring with his left jab and combinations. Quarry was able to land only a handful of punches, most of them glancing blows. In the third round, Quarry was badly cut by a right hand over his left eye following an exchange with Ali. Trainer Teddy Bentham, a veteran [[cutman]], realized the cut was too severe for Quarry to continue, even though he argued to continue. Referee [[Tony Perez (referee)|Tony Perez]] waved the bout over before the start of the 4th round, which was ruled a 3rd round technical KO. Quarry disputed the decision and demanded a rematch against Ali, which he would later receive.<ref>{{cite web|author=Frank Keating |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/oct/27/muhammad-ali-jerry-quarry-october-1970 |title=The night Muhammad Ali's legend was reborn – and the party that followed |work=The Guardian |date= October 27, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

Following the loss to Ali, Quarry had his second six-month layoff. He focused on television roles during this period, appearing on a number of television shows. In June 1971, he returned to start another streak of wins. Noteworthy among them was a revenge of his earlier draw against tall Tony Doyle at the Playboy Club in [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]] with a lopsided decision. He then KO'd [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Europe]]an champion [[Jack Bodell]] in the first round. That fight was held in [[London]]. His second fight there during this streak was against Larry Middleton. Middleton was the kind of tall, quick boxer with long reach who often gave Quarry trouble in bouts. Quarry won a very narrow, controversial decision against Middleton.

By then, Quarry had lobbied long and hard for a rematch against Ali. He finally was allowed that rematch a month after the Middleton bout. The second bout against Ali took place at the [[Las Vegas Convention Center]] on June 27, 1972. Their match was the headlining bout of a fight card that Ali called "The Soul Brothers Versus The Quarry Brothers." [[Bob Arum]] promoted the fight, with Ali playing up the obvious racial differences between his black fighters and the white Quarrys. In an earlier bout, Jerry's brother Mike, a high-ranked light heavyweight contender was KO'd by Light heavyweight champion and devastating puncher [[Bob Foster (boxer)|Bob Foster]], and seriously injured.

Ali weighed 216 for their bout, Quarry 198. The bout was eventful. At the opening bell, Quarry rushed Ali, got under his shoulders and lifted him briefly off the canvas before referee Mike Kaplan separated the fighters. Ali dominated most of the fight, using his jab. Visibly tired at the end of the 6th round, 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 Quarry protested. Nevertheless, the fight was stopped in favor of Ali.

==== Bouncing back ====
After Ali, Quarry, now managed by [[Gil Clancy]], bounced back to post another streak of wins. He seemed to mature as a fighter here, and 1973 was perhaps his greatest year as a heavyweight.

Despite deterioration in his movement and reflexes, and now having very scarred facial tissue, Quarry gave possibly the two best performances of his career next. After defeating [[Randy Neumann]] (21–2) in January, Quarry was placed into a bout similar to his previous [[Mac Foster]] match, as a ranked tune-up for a higher ranked contender. Ron Lyle was 19–0 with 17 knockouts, and the tough ex-convict was in line for a title shot when he met Quarry in February. The 6'3" Lyle weighed 219 for the bout, Quarry 200. Despite trailing early on, Quarry took control of the fight in the middle rounds and thoroughly outboxed Lyle for a lopsided 12-round decision win in an action packed fight.

During this time, Quarry got a chance to show off his athletic ability. On the ABC television show ''The Superstars'', he competed against other heavyweight boxers in a series of athletic contests. Winning that competition, he qualified for the Superstars final that year, and finished fourth to three [[NFL]] football players, an impressive showing. Noteworthy in those performances was his ability to hit a baseball.
Two wins later, [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] brought Quarry in to meet hard-punching [[Earnie Shavers]] in December. Shavers was 46–2 with 44 KOs. In another bout filled with the same racial overtones as the second Ali bout, Quarry surprised Shavers. After receiving a few hard shots, he landed a big punch in the 1st round and followed that up to win a stunning first-round KO win. King reportedly left Shavers in the ring and tore up his contract to manage him. Heavyweight champion [[George Foreman]] was in attendance, and negotiations for a title bout were already in motion for mid-1974. After the Shavers bout, Foreman reportedly backed away from that proposed bout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgeforeman.com/puncher_nontitle.php |access-date=August 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120153101/http://www.georgeforeman.com/puncher_nontitle.php |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |title=The Official Website for George Foreman }}</ref> He later claimed to have dodged Quarry, whom he never formally met in the ring.    
 
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. In June 1974, he agreed to rematch Joe Frazier. Quarry was the same size as at their first bout, but Frazier, now 212 pounds, was bigger. 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. 
Straight away, a determined Frazier began to connect hard punches at the physically diminished Quarry who couldn't muster the movement to evade Frazier. Staggering him with a trademark left hook at the end of the first round, Frazier then began landing solidly with both hands to Quarry's head and body, beginning a sickening beat down. 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. Quarry was visibly injured by the blow, but tried unsuccessfully to continue. The fight continued, with Frazier backing away from Quarry after opening up bad cuts over both eyes. [[Joe Louis]], however, waved Frazier back on. After landing a few more clean head shots, Louis finally stopped the fight early in the 5th round, a one-sided thrashing. Louis never refereed another fight.
<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Kram |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088722/index.htm |title=Jerry Quarry sold a lot of people the notion that he was ...|date=July 1, 1974 |access-date=February 21, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504181558/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088722/index.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2010 }}</ref>

Quarry could still attract crowds. He had made millions in the ring without ever being champion at a time when few had ever made that much money in boxing. He continued his television acting work, and had by now briefly helped road-manage the rock band [[Three Dog Night]].

After a win in February 1975, Quarry begged to be put in line for a fight with contender [[Ken Norton]]. When first choices [[Oscar Bonavena]] and [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] bowed out with injuries, Quarry was placed into the Norton bout on 18 days notice. Norton had been training for five months.
The Norton fight was Quarry's 62nd pro fight. Norton, who was about the same age as Quarry, was 32–3. The 6'3" Norton weighed 218 for the bout, Quarry 207 with little training beforehand. Clancy was once again in Quarry's corner. The fight took place March 24, 1975. The fight was a war of hard punches, with Norton connecting well early against  Quarry with shot reflexes, a sitting duck for Norton's  attacks. He was cut badly in the 3rd round, and attacked Norton so he would have a chance to win before the fight was stopped. Norton survived a tough Quarry attack and continued his assault. The fight was stopped in the 5th round after Quarry came under a barrage of clean shots to the head.

==Retirement==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2022}}
Quarry retired for over two and a half years after the Norton fight. His career record was at 50–8–4 at this time, with 32 wins by KO. He had two losses each to Frazier and Ali plus one apiece to Norton, Chuvalo, Ellis and [[Eddie Machen]] to this point. He had been ranked as high as the No. 1 contender three times. At around this time, Quarry signed a contract with the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] to be a boxing commentator.

In mid-1977, a return match was being put together which would put Quarry in against a ranked heavyweight. The ranked heavyweight would be Italian Lorenzo Zanon. The match was to be televised on ABC, where Quarry was contracted. But both fighters signed to have the bout televised on [[Columbia Broadcasting System|CBS]]. When Quarry, who often negotiated his own fight contracts, signed the bout to CBS, he lost his ABC contract.

The comeback match took place in November 1977, at [[Caesars Palace]] in [[Las Vegas]]. Quarry, weighing 209, looked slow and a shell of his former self, was clearly outboxed over seven rounds by Zanon. But Quarry caught him with a hard right in the 8th round, and won the fight by KO in the 9th. 
Despite winning, it was a poor performance, and Quarry retired again afterward, this time for almost six years.

During those years, Quarry was married and divorced twice. He also lost a great deal of his fortune in failed business investments. No longer doing television work, he decided to return to the ring. With the Cruiserweight division now created, Quarry returned in that weight class. When he returned in August 1983, he was 38 years old.

Quarry was already beginning to show the effects of his lengthy boxing career. A ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' reporter was researching an article about health problems among retired boxers, especially among those who started as child boxers. The reporter met Quarry, and although he appeared to be in good health, Quarry's performance on several simple cognitive tests was shockingly poor.<ref name="too_many_punches">Boyle, Robert H., [https://web.archive.org/web/20080331112430/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120728/index.htm "Too Many Punches, Too Little Concern"], ''Sports Illustrated'', April 11, 1983. Retrieved February 13, 2009.</ref>

He suffered from [[dementia pugilistica]], atrophy of the brain from repeated blows to the head. A 1983 CT scan of Quarry's brain done for the article showed evidence of brain atrophy, including the characteristic [[cavum septi pellucidi]] found in many boxers with long careers.

Despite these developing facts, Quarry had two wins in 1983, but the fights accelerated his mental decline. He retired again and was inactive as a boxer from 1984 to 1992, but Quarry continued to decline physically and mentally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-25-sp-1184-story.html |title=Quarry, 45, Applies for a California Boxing License |website=Los Angeles Times |date=September 18, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref> His entire boxing fortune completely gone by 1990, Quarry filed for Social Security at age 45.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-22-sp-571-story.html|title=Quarry's Bid for License Is Denied : Pro boxing: Former heavyweight contender, 45, failed sparring test, commission |website=Los Angeles Times|date=August 19, 1994 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> 
Denied a boxing license in many states because of his condition, Quarry found a loophole in [[Colorado]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbKCBAAAQBAJ&q=jerry+quarry+colorado+boxer&pg=PA245 |title=Hard Luck: The Triumph and Tragedy of "Irish" Jerry Quarry |author1=Steve Springer |author2=Blake Chavez |page=245 |date= April 2011|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |access-date=February 21, 2016|isbn=9780762768639 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1999/01/04/oth_249233.shtml |title=Former heavyweight boxer Jerry Quarry dies |website=Chronicle.augusta.com |date=January 4, 1999 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> which allowed him to schedule an October 30, 1992, bout with Ron Cramner, a cruiserweight 16 years Quarry's junior. At age 47 years and 6 months old, Quarry provided nothing more than a 6-round punching bag for the younger fighter, losing all six rounds and the decision.

==Last years==
Within a few years of his final bout Quarry was unable to feed or dress himself and had to be cared for around the clock by relatives, mainly his brother James, who was the only one of the four brothers not to box professionally.<ref name="latimes1995">{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-31-sp-63095-story.html|title=Quarry Provides Living Proof of Boxing's Side Effects : Aftermath: Brother blames father for retired fighter's deteriorated mental condition. |website=Los Angeles Times |date=December 20, 1987 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

Jerry's brother, [[Mike Quarry|Mike]], who had contended for the light-heavyweight championship, was himself beginning to show signs of [[Chronic traumatic encephalopathy|dementia pugilistica]] in his later years, and died as a result on June 11, 2006. Another brother, [[Bobby Quarry|Bobby]], was diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]].

Jerry Quarry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plummer |first=William |url= https://people.com/archive/a-life-on-the-ropes-vol-45-no-7/|title=A Life on the Ropes |website=People.com |date=February 19, 1996|access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVOoDdRTAAM "Boxing Hall of Fame: Jerry Quarry"], YouTube.com. September 3, 2011.
</ref>

==Death==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}
Quarry was hospitalized with [[pneumonia]] on December 28, 1998, and then suffered [[cardiac arrest]]. He never regained consciousness and died on January 3, 1999, at the age of 53. His body was interred at Shafter Cemetery in [[Shafter, California]].  He left behind three children.

==Legacy==
A foundation was established in his honor to battle boxing-related dementia, a condition that has afflicted many boxers and brought Quarry's life to an early end.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldstein |first=Richard |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/05/sports/jerry-quarry-53-boxer-battered-by-years-in-the-ring-dies.html |title=Jerry Quarry, 53, Boxer Battered by Years in the Ring, Dies |website=New York Times|date=January 5, 1999 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

Quarry's overall professional record was 53–9–4 with 32 [[knockout|KO]]s. Frazier, in his autobiography, said of Quarry: "A very tough man. He could have been a world champion, but he cut too easily." Foreman similarly lauded Quarry.<ref name="latimes1995"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-29-sp-62464-story.html|title=There Is Still No Quit in Jerry Quarry : Ex-Boxer Has the Brain of an 80-Year-Old; 'If He Lives Another 10 Years He'll Be Lucky'|website=Los Angeles Times |date=October 29, 1995 |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments==
* '''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
** Boxing Honoree (1993)<ref name="CauliflowerHonorees">{{cite web|title=Honorees|url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/awards/honorees|work=[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706161143/https://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/awards/honorees|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=4
|ko-wins=32
|ko-losses=6
|dec-wins=21
|dec-losses=3
}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|66
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|53–9–4}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Ron Cranmer
|UD
|6
|Oct 30, 1992
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Holiday Inn Trade Center, [[Aurora, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|53–8–4
|style="text-align:left;"|James Williams
|MD
|10
|Nov 22, 1983
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Kern County Fairgrounds, [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]], California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|52–8–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Lupe Guerra
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|0:32}}
|Aug 31, 1983
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Albuquerque Civic Auditorium]], [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|63
|{{yes2}}Win
|51–8–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Lorenzo Zanon
|TKO
|9 (10), {{small|2:34}}
|Nov 5, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Caesars Palace]], Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-
|62
|{{no2}}Loss
|50–8–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ken Norton]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|2:29}}
|Mar 27, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant NABF heavyweight title}}
|-
|61
|{{yes2}}Win
|50–7–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]]
|UD
|10
|Feb 25, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Honolulu International Center]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|60
|{{no2}}Loss
|49–7–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Joe Frazier]]
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:37}}
|Jun 17, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Alexander
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|May 8, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Nassau Coliseum]], [[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale]], New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|58
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Earnie Shavers]]
|TKO
|1 (12), {{small|2:21}}
|Dec 14, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Doyle
|TKO
|4 (10), {{small|1:38}}
|[[Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II|Sep 10, 1973]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|James J Woody
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:59}}
|Aug 31, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-
|55
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ron Lyle]]
|UD
|12
|Feb 9, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Randy Neumann]]
|RTD
|7 (10)
|Jan 5, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|53
|{{no2}}Loss
|43–6–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Muhammad Ali]]
|TKO
|7 (12), {{small|0:19}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Jerry Quarry II|Jun 27, 1972]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For NABF heavyweight title}}
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Larry Middleton
|PTS
|10
|May 9, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|  {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Eduardo Corletti]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:58}}
|Apr 17, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]], [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Lou Bailey
|UD
|10
|Dec 2, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center|Veterans Memorial Auditorium]], [[Des Moines, Iowa]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack Bodell]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:04}}
|Nov 16, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|  {{small|[[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]], London, England}}
|
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Doyle
|UD
|10
|Jul 24, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Playboy Club|Playboy Club Hotel]], [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Dick Gosha
|UD
|10
|Jun 18, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Ocean Shores, Washington|Ocean Shores]], Washington, U.S.}}
|
|-
|46
|{{no2}}Loss
|37–5–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Muhammad Ali]]
|RTD
|3 (15), {{small|3:00}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Jerry Quarry|Oct 26, 1970]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta)|Municipal Auditorium]], [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|For [[Lineal Championship|Lineal]] Heavyweight Title}}
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–4–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Stamford Harris
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|1:14}}
|Sep 8, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Miami Beach Municipal Auditorium]], Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.}}
|
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–4–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mac Foster]]
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|2:05}}
|Jun 17, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–4–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]]
|UD
|10
|Mar 19, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–4–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Rufus Brassell
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:32}}
|Mar 3, 1970
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Miami Beach Convention Center]], [[Miami Beach, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|41
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–4–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[George Chuvalo]]
|KO
|7 (10), {{small|2:59}}
|Dec 12, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–3–4
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Brian London]]
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:30}}
|Sep 3, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Oakland Arena, Oakland, California, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–3–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Johnny Carroll
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:43}}
|Aug 11, 1969
| style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Aldrich Arena, [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|31–3–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Joe Frazier]]
|RTD
|7 (15), {{small|3:00}}
|Jun 23, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] [[list of heavyweight boxing champions|heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Buster Mathis]]
|UD
|12
|Mar 24, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Aaron Eastling
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|2:41}}
|Jan 26, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Canton Memorial Civic Center|Memorial Auditorium]], [[Canton, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Charlie Reno
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|2:58}}
|Jan 10, 1969
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Seattle Center Coliseum]], [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Willis Earls
|UD
|10
|Nov 19, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Freeman Coliseum]], San Antonio, Texas, U.S.}}
|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Bob Mumford
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:15}}
|Nov 11, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Phoenix Forum, [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|26–2–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]]
|MD
|15
|Apr 27, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Oakland Coliseum|Coliseum Arena]], Oakland, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA heavyweight title]]; WBA Heavyweight Title Elimination Tournament; Final}}
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Thad Spencer]]
|TKO
|12 (12), {{small|2:57}}
|Feb 3, 1968
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Oakland Arena]], [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|WBA Heavyweight Title Elimination Tournament; Semi-finals; Quarry-Spencer, Bonavena-Ellis}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Floyd Patterson]]
|MD
|12
|Oct 28, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[World Boxing Association|WBA]] Heavyweight Title Elimination Tournament; Quarter-finals; Quarry-Patterson, Martin-Ellis, Bonavena-Mildenberger, Terrell-Spencer}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Billy Daniels
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:45}}
|Sep 15, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|28
|{{draw}}Draw
|23–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Floyd Patterson]]
|MD
|10
|Jun 9, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Alex Miteff
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:18}}
|Apr 27, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Brian London]]
|UD
|10
|Mar 9, 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Jones
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|3:08}}
|Jan 11, 1967
| style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Bill Graham Civic Auditorium|Civic Auditorium]], [[San Francisco]], California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Joey Orbillo
|UD
|10
|Dec 15, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Leslie Borden
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|2:18}}
|Nov 28, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Valley Music Theater]], Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Bill Nielsen
|UD
|10
|Oct 20, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|21
|{{no2}}Loss
|17–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Eddie Machen]]
|UD
|10
|Jul 14, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|20
|{{draw}}Draw
|17–0–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Alongi
|PTS
|10
|May 27, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|Sports Arena]], Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Jones
|UD
|10
|May 2, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City, Missouri)|Municipal Auditorium]], Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]]
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:40}}
|Apr 7, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|17
|{{draw}}Draw
|15–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Alongi
|SD
|10
|Mar 4, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Prentice Snipes
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|2:20}}
|Feb 17, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Land
|UD
|8
|Feb 3, 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Las Vegas Convention Center|Convention Center]], [[Las Vegas]], Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Roy Crear
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Dec 23, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|13
|{{draw}}Draw
|12–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Doyle
|UD
|10
|Nov 11, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Roy Crear
|TKO
|3 (10)
|Nov 2, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[San Antonio Municipal Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]], [[San Antonio, Texas]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Carter
|TKO
|6 (8), {{small|1:21}}
|Oct 28, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Milton Manley
|KO
|1 (8), {{small|0:30}}
|Oct 18, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Ray Junior Ellis
|TKO
|3 (6), {{small|0:28}}
|Sep 23, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|John Henry Jackson
|UD
|8
|Aug 9, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Memorial Hall (Kansas City, Kansas)|Memorial Hall]], [[Kansas City, Kansas]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|JP Spencer
|TKO
|4 (8), {{small|0:34}}
|Aug 2, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Hacienda (Las Vegas)|Hacienda Hotel]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Ray Junior Ellis
|UD
|6
|Jul 29, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Willie Davis
|KO
|3 (6), {{small|1:43}}
|Jul 16, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Dave Centi
|UD
|6
|Jun 24, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Lance Holmberg
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|6
|Jun 17, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|John Henry Jackson
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|4 (6), {{small|1:06}}
|Jun 3, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Grand Olympic Auditorium|Olympic Auditorium]], Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gene Hamilton
|PTS
|4
|May 7, 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Memorial Coliseum]], [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=9385}}
*[http://www.jerryquarry.com Jerry Quarry Foundation web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512021139/http://www.jerryquarry.com/ |date=May 12, 2008 }}
*[http://leopod.tripod.com/id22.html The Boxing Brothers]
*{{Find a Grave|7447}}
*[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/psych "pressure doesn't psych me" quote at Merriam-Webster]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022212250/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22247990.html Boxer Jerry Quarry Remembered]

{{Boxing on ABC}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quarry, Jerry}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
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[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
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[[Category:American boxing commentators]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]
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