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Hard Luck: The Triumph And Tragedy Of "Irish" Jerry Quarry
In Hard Luck, “Irish” Jerry Quarry comes to life—from his Grapes of Wrath days as the child of an abusive father in the California migrant camps to those as the undersized heavyweight slaying giants on his way to multiple title bouts and the honor of being the World’s Most Popular Fighter in ’68, ’69, ’70, and ’71.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 27, 2012
This tragic and beautiful chronicle by Steve Springer didn't come soon enough. The Greatest To Never Win a Championship Belt, Irish Jerry Quarry, was ranked by Ring Magazine number 3 in the Heavyweight division during the most competitive and arguably greatest period of professional boxing.
Quarry KOed one of the hardest hitters in the division, Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Frazier, gave Ron Lyle a dangerous run for his money, and was feared by Big George Foreman (who gracefully pens the introduction to the book) who continually ducked him because of his lethal left hook.
The only reason Jerry Quarry never took a belt home was his right eye, which cut way to easily. In his two brief fights with Muhammad Ali, the champ took extreme advantage of that, reducing Jerry's face to a mishmash of blood. I'll never forget seeing Quarry jump up and down in frustration, his chance at the Greatest blown, and seeing Muhammad Ali give him an actual hug, something you really don't see much in boxing. He told him he'd get another shot, and he did.
I'd heard from boxing trainers for years about how viciously Jerry and his brother Mike would go at it during sparring--Mike was a light heavyweight who never felt like he could emerge from his brother's shadow--and the question was always, "Why?" Why would two brothers beat the snot out of each other on their off time at free exhibitions? Springer's book fills in the blank. Their father.
He pressured the two so intensely to be the greatest boxers on earth ("There's no quit in a Quarry", he'd say) that the two competed for his affection even unto the death. Mike Quarry died of dementia pugilistica and so did Jerry. Their youngest brother, James, wisely stayed out of boxing after watching yet another one of his brothers, Bobby, die from the same disease as a result of his own less heralded boxing career.
Both Jerry and Mike deserve a book and deserve a movie as well. I hope a Hollywood director picks this up.
Quarry KOed one of the hardest hitters in the division, Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Frazier, gave Ron Lyle a dangerous run for his money, and was feared by Big George Foreman (who gracefully pens the introduction to the book) who continually ducked him because of his lethal left hook.
The only reason Jerry Quarry never took a belt home was his right eye, which cut way to easily. In his two brief fights with Muhammad Ali, the champ took extreme advantage of that, reducing Jerry's face to a mishmash of blood. I'll never forget seeing Quarry jump up and down in frustration, his chance at the Greatest blown, and seeing Muhammad Ali give him an actual hug, something you really don't see much in boxing. He told him he'd get another shot, and he did.
I'd heard from boxing trainers for years about how viciously Jerry and his brother Mike would go at it during sparring--Mike was a light heavyweight who never felt like he could emerge from his brother's shadow--and the question was always, "Why?" Why would two brothers beat the snot out of each other on their off time at free exhibitions? Springer's book fills in the blank. Their father.
He pressured the two so intensely to be the greatest boxers on earth ("There's no quit in a Quarry", he'd say) that the two competed for his affection even unto the death. Mike Quarry died of dementia pugilistica and so did Jerry. Their youngest brother, James, wisely stayed out of boxing after watching yet another one of his brothers, Bobby, die from the same disease as a result of his own less heralded boxing career.
Both Jerry and Mike deserve a book and deserve a movie as well. I hope a Hollywood director picks this up.
July 25, 2019
Excellently researched book which tells the story of boxing great Jerry Quarry in admirable depth, featuring several interesting supporting characters in the form of his formidable father, Jack, and boxing brother, Mike, a top-ranked contender in his own right before he ran into all-time great Light Heavyweight champion Bob Foster.
I found the final chapters charting Quarry's decline made for heart-breaking reading, such was the sad and steep fall from grace suffered by one of the best and bravest boxers of all time.
The reason I'm going for 3 stars, rather than 4 or 5, is that I found the writing style to be one of 'trying too hard'. This takes the form of endless, quirky turns of phrase, which to me felt showy and ostentatious at times.
The subject of Jerry Quarry's life and career is so compelling and transcendental, that these Las Vegas-entertainer-style quips and phrases become tiresome and risk cheapening the story at hand. The odd one here and there to sprinkle in some flair, yes, but there are literally hundreds of them throughout the book.
To end on a positive note, a great strength of the book is its blow-by-blow accounts of Quarry's fights, which (despite the prevalence of the aforementioned quips and turns of phrase), are described in vivid terms.
I found the final chapters charting Quarry's decline made for heart-breaking reading, such was the sad and steep fall from grace suffered by one of the best and bravest boxers of all time.
The reason I'm going for 3 stars, rather than 4 or 5, is that I found the writing style to be one of 'trying too hard'. This takes the form of endless, quirky turns of phrase, which to me felt showy and ostentatious at times.
The subject of Jerry Quarry's life and career is so compelling and transcendental, that these Las Vegas-entertainer-style quips and phrases become tiresome and risk cheapening the story at hand. The odd one here and there to sprinkle in some flair, yes, but there are literally hundreds of them throughout the book.
To end on a positive note, a great strength of the book is its blow-by-blow accounts of Quarry's fights, which (despite the prevalence of the aforementioned quips and turns of phrase), are described in vivid terms.
April 3, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: THERE IS NO QUIT IN A QUARRY!”
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Any boxing fan who lived through the 1960’s and 1970’s will never forget heavyweight boxer Jerry Quarry. Any boxing fan regardless of their age, or what generation of boxing they lived through… should know about Jerry Quarry. Quarry was without a doubt one of the best heavyweights who never won the championship. The time period that encompassed Jerry’s career… just may have included the most talented overall bunch of heavyweights active at one time in history. And as the reader will find out… Jerry is probably the only one who didn’t shy away from fighting these behemoth bombers. Before I go any further in this review… my opening statements can easily be confirmed by no greater an authority than former Heavyweight Champ and master-blaster George Foreman. Big George states in the foreword he so graciously wrote for this super-well-documented Quarry biography: “JERRY QUARRY WAS THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER NEVER TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP BELT. WHEN I BECAME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, I DODGED HIM PURPOSELY.”
In hindsight… what can rightfully be called “The Golden Age Of Heavyweights” Jerry fought at least FIVE DIFFERENT MEN WHO AT SOME POINT WERE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS! Jerry’s opponents included among others, MUHAMMAD ALI (TWICE), SMOKIN’ JOE FRAZIER, KEN NORTON, RON LYLE, EARNIE SHAVERS, MAC FOSTER, FLOYD PATTERSON, THAD SPENCER, JIMMY ELLIS AND GEORGE CHUVALO. Many of these fighters were avoided by other fighters by any means necessary. Jerry never avoided anyone… and he always came to fight.
I grew up in Southern California during the Quarry years… and I even went to some fights with my boxing loving Dad, and yet I still learned an awful lot of behind the scenes information about the Quarry clan. The reader will learn about his tough as nails Father, Jack… who was the epitome of a relentless-street-fighting-give-no-quarter-depression-era-grapes-of-wrath-hardass. He had all his sons boxing each other from an early age. That included younger brother Mike who wound up fighting for the Light Heavyweight Championship and getting knocked into outer space by one of the greatest Light Heavyweight Champions of all-time, Bob Foster. One of the most surprising things I learned was how even as professional fighters, Jack had Jerry and Mike spar against each other in such no-holds-barred battle royals… that other professional boxers almost couldn’t bear to watch. And if that wasn’t bad enough… many times they both fought each other without headgear. Many believe that is one of the reasons they both wound up dying from dementia pugilistica.
The author provides a wonderfully detailed roadmap of Jerry being a great athlete in high school who ran the 100 yard dash in 9.9 seconds (That blew me away… a heavyweight boxer with that type of speed!) through his Golden Glove years and on through the pro’s. A local Los Angeles fight favorite with his original home base the famed Olympic Auditorium (Where my Dad and I went.)… and then the biggest stage of them all… *MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NEW YORK*. Among others, Jerry fought Muhammad Ali in Atlanta in his now infamous first bout back after his refusing the military draft. Jerry was thrown into a role that he never liked… that of *THE GREAT WHITE HOPE*. Jerry never backed down in any fight regardless of the outcome. From a job changing tires on Greyhound busses to being close personal friends with *ELVIS*, Jerry… just like “THE KING” loved his Mother more than anything else, and always took care of her.
The reader will have no punches pulled, as Quarry starts drinking… doing drugs… and starts to rapidly decline… almost assuredly from all the blows to the head he received… as he never stepped backwards… whether in victory or defeat. The end is exceedingly sad… and is like a modern day “REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT”. The author at times goes overboard with his metaphors and analogies, such as: “AT THE END OF THE ROUND, JERRY HAD FINALLY FORCED ALI TO TASTE WHAT HE HAD IN THE KITCHEN, BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS ALI HAD A RAVENOUS APPETITE THAT JERRY COULD NOT SATE.” Or, ”JERRY HUNGERED FOR ANOTHER TITLE SHOT, JACK THREW HIM A STEAK, BUT IT WAS AS TOUGH AS HELL. THE STEAK WENT BY THE NAME OF “SMOKIN” JOE FRAZIER. A GUY COULD LOSE A MOLAR OR TWO BITING INTO THAT GRADE OF MEAT.” And, “FRAZIER STAYED ON QUARRY LIKE A COUCH ON A FURNITURE DELIVERYMAN’S BACK.” At first you think it was just a coincidence… but then you think it may be an inside tongue-in-cheek-joke… but by the end you just don’t know.
Either way, the author did a great job and really defined this tough as nails boxer to the “T”, including when “IN 1995 DR. PETER RUSSELL, JERRY’S NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST DURING THIS PERIOD STATED, “JERRY QUARRY’S BRAIN LOOKS LIKE THE INSIDE OF A GRAPEFRUIT THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED DOZENS OF TIMES.”
Jerry always loved his fans… and we still love you Jerry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any boxing fan who lived through the 1960’s and 1970’s will never forget heavyweight boxer Jerry Quarry. Any boxing fan regardless of their age, or what generation of boxing they lived through… should know about Jerry Quarry. Quarry was without a doubt one of the best heavyweights who never won the championship. The time period that encompassed Jerry’s career… just may have included the most talented overall bunch of heavyweights active at one time in history. And as the reader will find out… Jerry is probably the only one who didn’t shy away from fighting these behemoth bombers. Before I go any further in this review… my opening statements can easily be confirmed by no greater an authority than former Heavyweight Champ and master-blaster George Foreman. Big George states in the foreword he so graciously wrote for this super-well-documented Quarry biography: “JERRY QUARRY WAS THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER NEVER TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP BELT. WHEN I BECAME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, I DODGED HIM PURPOSELY.”
In hindsight… what can rightfully be called “The Golden Age Of Heavyweights” Jerry fought at least FIVE DIFFERENT MEN WHO AT SOME POINT WERE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS! Jerry’s opponents included among others, MUHAMMAD ALI (TWICE), SMOKIN’ JOE FRAZIER, KEN NORTON, RON LYLE, EARNIE SHAVERS, MAC FOSTER, FLOYD PATTERSON, THAD SPENCER, JIMMY ELLIS AND GEORGE CHUVALO. Many of these fighters were avoided by other fighters by any means necessary. Jerry never avoided anyone… and he always came to fight.
I grew up in Southern California during the Quarry years… and I even went to some fights with my boxing loving Dad, and yet I still learned an awful lot of behind the scenes information about the Quarry clan. The reader will learn about his tough as nails Father, Jack… who was the epitome of a relentless-street-fighting-give-no-quarter-depression-era-grapes-of-wrath-hardass. He had all his sons boxing each other from an early age. That included younger brother Mike who wound up fighting for the Light Heavyweight Championship and getting knocked into outer space by one of the greatest Light Heavyweight Champions of all-time, Bob Foster. One of the most surprising things I learned was how even as professional fighters, Jack had Jerry and Mike spar against each other in such no-holds-barred battle royals… that other professional boxers almost couldn’t bear to watch. And if that wasn’t bad enough… many times they both fought each other without headgear. Many believe that is one of the reasons they both wound up dying from dementia pugilistica.
The author provides a wonderfully detailed roadmap of Jerry being a great athlete in high school who ran the 100 yard dash in 9.9 seconds (That blew me away… a heavyweight boxer with that type of speed!) through his Golden Glove years and on through the pro’s. A local Los Angeles fight favorite with his original home base the famed Olympic Auditorium (Where my Dad and I went.)… and then the biggest stage of them all… *MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NEW YORK*. Among others, Jerry fought Muhammad Ali in Atlanta in his now infamous first bout back after his refusing the military draft. Jerry was thrown into a role that he never liked… that of *THE GREAT WHITE HOPE*. Jerry never backed down in any fight regardless of the outcome. From a job changing tires on Greyhound busses to being close personal friends with *ELVIS*, Jerry… just like “THE KING” loved his Mother more than anything else, and always took care of her.
The reader will have no punches pulled, as Quarry starts drinking… doing drugs… and starts to rapidly decline… almost assuredly from all the blows to the head he received… as he never stepped backwards… whether in victory or defeat. The end is exceedingly sad… and is like a modern day “REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT”. The author at times goes overboard with his metaphors and analogies, such as: “AT THE END OF THE ROUND, JERRY HAD FINALLY FORCED ALI TO TASTE WHAT HE HAD IN THE KITCHEN, BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS ALI HAD A RAVENOUS APPETITE THAT JERRY COULD NOT SATE.” Or, ”JERRY HUNGERED FOR ANOTHER TITLE SHOT, JACK THREW HIM A STEAK, BUT IT WAS AS TOUGH AS HELL. THE STEAK WENT BY THE NAME OF “SMOKIN” JOE FRAZIER. A GUY COULD LOSE A MOLAR OR TWO BITING INTO THAT GRADE OF MEAT.” And, “FRAZIER STAYED ON QUARRY LIKE A COUCH ON A FURNITURE DELIVERYMAN’S BACK.” At first you think it was just a coincidence… but then you think it may be an inside tongue-in-cheek-joke… but by the end you just don’t know.
Either way, the author did a great job and really defined this tough as nails boxer to the “T”, including when “IN 1995 DR. PETER RUSSELL, JERRY’S NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST DURING THIS PERIOD STATED, “JERRY QUARRY’S BRAIN LOOKS LIKE THE INSIDE OF A GRAPEFRUIT THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED DOZENS OF TIMES.”
Jerry always loved his fans… and we still love you Jerry.
July 9, 2017
It's hard for people to appreciate at this great remove how famous Jerry Quarry actually was at the peak of his powers. At his pinnacle, he commanded a larger per-fight purse than "Broadway" Joe Namath earned in a year. Some of this was based on the politics of the time- Quarry being an Irish (re: white) boxer who looked to Middle America like a more noble role model than the 'Louisville Lip' Cassius Clay (of late renamed Muhammad Ali). But a lot of the love for Quarry was based on his underrated prowess and intelligence as a boxer, combined with his brutal punching power and one of the best (if not, the best) chins in the industry.
Jerry Quarry beat some of the toughest men in the toughest era for heavyweights (including Ron Lyle and Earnie "the Acorn" Shavers), and those he didn't beat were either "The Greatest" himself (Ali) or great enough in their own right ("Smokin'" Joe Frazier).
The book does a capable job of charting Quarry's rise from the son of an itinerant field worker (his father had the words "Hard Luck" tattooed on his hands, which should give you a window into the man's weltanschaaung) to a scrappy lad encouraged to fight his brother and later other neighborhood kids. Quarry would mature throughout the tumultuous sixties into a shy, thoughtful man who seemed to despise boxing yet appreciated the lifestyle it was able to afford his wife, his children, and his ageing mother. Like Ali, he was always gracious with fans (even those who looked him up in the Yellow Pages and called his house to chat, as apparently happened at one point).
Life was tough from beginning to end for Jerry Quarry, as life is for many people and even more boxers. The book does a good job of showing the slow-motion horror movie that those with pugilistica dementia endure, as well as the toll that being punch-drunk takes on family members and friends forced to care for the fallen fighter, as he begins his long plunge into madness and finally death.
"Irish" Jerry Quarry never became world champion, but that was neither for lack of skill nor lack of trying (despite the desultory hit-pieces written against him in the sports media, especially a brutal takedown by SI's Mark Kram). The actor and Quarry-booster Mickey Rourke asserts that Jerry would have been a champ in any other era, and that is most probably true. As hard as Quarry's life was, it was an existence filled with as many joys as sorrows, and Quarry was lovable and brave enough to leave behind a large contingent of friends, family, and fans, the blurring of lines between those categories speaking volumes to the man's character and heart. Recommended, though be prepared to absorb some psychic punishment as you read about the toll the physical blows took on the "Bellflower Belter."
Jerry Quarry beat some of the toughest men in the toughest era for heavyweights (including Ron Lyle and Earnie "the Acorn" Shavers), and those he didn't beat were either "The Greatest" himself (Ali) or great enough in their own right ("Smokin'" Joe Frazier).
The book does a capable job of charting Quarry's rise from the son of an itinerant field worker (his father had the words "Hard Luck" tattooed on his hands, which should give you a window into the man's weltanschaaung) to a scrappy lad encouraged to fight his brother and later other neighborhood kids. Quarry would mature throughout the tumultuous sixties into a shy, thoughtful man who seemed to despise boxing yet appreciated the lifestyle it was able to afford his wife, his children, and his ageing mother. Like Ali, he was always gracious with fans (even those who looked him up in the Yellow Pages and called his house to chat, as apparently happened at one point).
Life was tough from beginning to end for Jerry Quarry, as life is for many people and even more boxers. The book does a good job of showing the slow-motion horror movie that those with pugilistica dementia endure, as well as the toll that being punch-drunk takes on family members and friends forced to care for the fallen fighter, as he begins his long plunge into madness and finally death.
"Irish" Jerry Quarry never became world champion, but that was neither for lack of skill nor lack of trying (despite the desultory hit-pieces written against him in the sports media, especially a brutal takedown by SI's Mark Kram). The actor and Quarry-booster Mickey Rourke asserts that Jerry would have been a champ in any other era, and that is most probably true. As hard as Quarry's life was, it was an existence filled with as many joys as sorrows, and Quarry was lovable and brave enough to leave behind a large contingent of friends, family, and fans, the blurring of lines between those categories speaking volumes to the man's character and heart. Recommended, though be prepared to absorb some psychic punishment as you read about the toll the physical blows took on the "Bellflower Belter."
May 24, 2020
Hard luck for sure
I never realised how good Jerry Quarry was. This isnt your typical boxing story that i thought it was going to be. It has a realness and honesty about it. Hard hitting to say the least. The fall of this tough irishman was predictable but the sadness i felt at the end was quite shocking. Even though I knew how the story ended the reality of it hit me hard considering knowing in-depth the journey that got him there. This is an amazing book. A truly human story of strength and weakness oh, ups and downs and most of all perseverance. The story of one tough Irishman
I never realised how good Jerry Quarry was. This isnt your typical boxing story that i thought it was going to be. It has a realness and honesty about it. Hard hitting to say the least. The fall of this tough irishman was predictable but the sadness i felt at the end was quite shocking. Even though I knew how the story ended the reality of it hit me hard considering knowing in-depth the journey that got him there. This is an amazing book. A truly human story of strength and weakness oh, ups and downs and most of all perseverance. The story of one tough Irishman
March 24, 2020
Jerry Quarry
Great read. Detailed life and career of Jerry Quarry. Lot of historical events, boxers, fight details and the aftermath of Jerry’s slide into dementia and Alzheimer’s . Great book.
Great read. Detailed life and career of Jerry Quarry. Lot of historical events, boxers, fight details and the aftermath of Jerry’s slide into dementia and Alzheimer’s . Great book.
January 11, 2023
As a big fan of Jerry Quarry I was hoping for a well written book on his life but I was sadly disappointed. The writing style is amateurish. A pro like Quarry deserved a better treatment.
September 11, 2012
The writing is a bit bad at times but I learned a bit...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews