26.10.07 – By Steve Edwards: October 30, 2007 will mark the 15 year anniversary of Jerry Quarry’s final boxing fight, a debacle against an inexperienced club fighter with a losing record. On that date in 1992, Jerry stepped between the ropes for a final time to fight Ron “The Hammer” Cranmer, a fighter who was 3-4-1 going into the contest.
Viewing the fight without knowing the combatants, one would assume that Quarry, looking horribly bloated in his signature green trunks, was supposed to be an easy for Cranmer. For six rounds, Jerry was driven backwards by Cranmer, his only defense to cower and half-heartedly raise his arms or respond with a low blow. Cranmer decisioned Jerry in 6 agonizing rounds and went on to lose his next 4 fights before becoming inactive. Jerry, thankfully, never fought again.
It is somewhat heart-wrenching for the viewer who DOES know the two combatants, at least Quarry. The man with the motto of “There’s no quit in a Quarry,” the man who gamely fought Ali in Georgia and risked assassination, the man who knocked out Earnie Shavers in Round 1 is not the Jerry Quarry in the ring that night. This is a sad and poor Jerry Quarry, reduced to fighting in Colorado in front of a few hundred people for a $1,000 payday. That a former title challenger is fighting in these circumstances is comparable to seeing Joe Louis greeting at Ceasar’s Palace, or Jersey Joe Walcott acting as a referee in pro wrestling matches.
His sad story is well-known. The pugilistic dementia robbed Quarry’s brain of his capacity to function. Jerry, only a husk of his former self, died at age 53.
Quarry may never have won a title, but he was always the fan’s champion, and that is worth far more than any alphabet soup belt. This October 30, take a pause and remember “Irish” Jerry Quarry.
The author would appreciate your comments. Please contact him via email: saedward@oakland.edu