Jerry Quarry

"Irish" Jerry Quarry said it himself, "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride". Quarry had the "bad" luck that his professional boxing career occurred during the 1960s and 1970s, when the division was "packed" with some of the greatest heavyweights in history. Trained by his father, Jack Quarry, to be a boxer as a child. Jerry went on to capture the National Golden Gloves Amateur Heavyweight Championship, setting an amateur record by knocking out 5 straight opponents. Dubbed "The Great White Hope" (a title he hated), Quarry began his career with 20 straight victories. Known for an iron chin and a sledge-hammer punch, the handsome Quarry seemed destined for super stardom. However, as he himself admitted, his "Irish" temper got the best of him. A beautiful boxer-puncher when he desired, Quarry's temper got the best of him and he decided to go punch-for-punch with heavyweight king Joe Frazier. It was one of the greatest slugfests in history and Quarry was stopped on cuts. Jerry also came up short against three other world heavyweight champions - Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Ellis and Ken Norton. It was clear that he was born 10 years too soon. Even though Quarry defeated such top fighters as Floyd Patterson, Mac Foster, Ron Lyle, Ernie Shavers and Billy Daniels, he was unable to win the World's Heavyweight Title. He made an ill advised comeback in 1992 at 47 years old in Aurora, Colorado. He was brutally battered by club-fighter Ron Cranmer in losing a decision. A short time later, Jerry Quarry's life took a nose dive to a tragic and sad ending. A hard drinker, ladies man (he had three failed marriages), and countless beatings in the ring, all added up to cause Quarry to suffered from severe memory lapses. It was said he suffered severe brain damage, known as being "Punch Drunk". His money and fame gone, Quarry was cared for by his family. He died on January 3, 1999 way before his time at age 53. Jerry Quarry loved boxing. It sadly, didn't love him back.