Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Jerry Quarry was one of boxing’s most gifted fighters. But, he had two major flaws that were impossible to overcome: his size and his “thin” skin. First, his size. Most heavyweight boxers fought at weights that surpassed 200-pounds. Quarry was smaller and fought most of his fights between 175 and 185 pounds. As for the “thin” skin, that’s the best way I can describe how easily he cut. Those two flaws, certainly affected Quarry’s chances to win a heavyweight championship. As an amateur, he won the Gold Gloves. But as a professional, he fought for a heavyweight belt four times, but in each instance he lost. Quarry, who was 53-9-4 as a professional, could punch with anyone. Whether he hit you with his right or left, both were powerful. He was technically smart, and he offered brutal beatings of Ernie Shavers, Floyd Patterson and Ron Ellis – all top contenders. Quarry, who started to train in a boxing ring at the age of six, came from a family of boxers. He fought 200 times as an amateur, and basically lived his