Mike Quarry 'First Super-Middleweight Champion'

Michael Wayne 'Mighty Mike' Quarry

A 5' 11', fast handed boxer, who at normal weight was 170 lbs. -
was forced to box at Light-Heavyweight, and against bigger fighters.

He should have been, 'The First Super-Middleweight Champion'.

If there was ever a Weight Division for someone, 170 lbs. was the perfect
fight weight for the younger Quarry.

Turned professional on August 11, 1969 - at age 18.

Had to campaign at 175 lbs. versus naturally bigger men. Though Mike could hit,
he could not 'dent' the bigger fighters.

Ran off '21' straight wins at 21-0-0 (7 KO's), before tangling with his
first 'name fighter' - the British-Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight Champion,
the #16-Ranked - 'Welshman'' Eddie Avorth 41-5-0 (20 KO's).

In a June 6, 1970 bout at the Valley Music Theatre, in Woodland Hills, California, -
Mike exhibited fast hands, and smart counter-punching to defeat Eddie Avorth
by a 'solid' 10-Round Unanimous Decision.

The victory earned Mike a #15 Light-Heavyweight ranking.

It was after this bout, that "Mighty Mike's" father Jack Quarry, suggested a new weight
division at 170 lbs., and asked the California Boxing Commission to establish this
new weight class.

The 'debate' was, that fighters in the 'mid-to-high' 160's could not compete with 175 lb. fighters,
and that another 'weight division' was needed.

Jack Quarry, who may have been ahead of his time, suggested that the 175 lb. Light-Heavyweight
Division be bumped up 10 lbs. to 185 lbs, and that a new division at 170 lbs, should be created, and
with the name 'Quarryweight'. Jack, stated, that Quarry relates to making medium-size rocks and stones
from larger Heavyweight boulders. And that 'Quarryweight' sounded better than 'Mediumweight'.

Did he have a point ?

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By January 1971 - 'Mighty Mike' Quarry improves his mark to 25-0-0 (8 KO's).

Though he's winning, he cannot stop anyone.

On Saturday Night - January 23, 1971 - and sitting with a #10 Light-Heavyweight ranking,
'Mighty Mike' takes on his 'toughest opponent' - Top 10 Ranked - Andy Kendall of Portland, Oregon.

In a Don Fraser Promotion, at the Valley Music Theater Arena, and in front of a sell-out crowd of 3000.

'Mighty Mike' Quarry takes on the #7 Light-Heavyweight, 31 year-old veteran, Andy 'The Scappose Express' Kendall 29-7-7 (13 KO's)

Over the 'first' 5-Rounds, 'Mighty Mike' is successful in using a darting 'in-and-out' style, to throw the
timing off of the 'veteran' Andy Kendall. But the 31 year-old starts to land in Round 6, and sends Mike Quarry
scampering for the next '3-Rounds'.

In Round 9, sensing that he is losing control of the bout, 'Mighty Mike' changes his tactics, and engages
in a slug-fest with Andy Kendall. The 3000 fans at the Valley Music Theatre Arena erupt, as the 'two'
Top 10 Rated Light-Heavyweights go toe-to-toe over the last 2-Rounds, and fight after the bell.

Scorecards; (6-2-2 / 6-2-2 / 4-4-2)

Live Gate....... $14,000
Fight Purse..... $3500 Mike Quarry
Fight Purse..... $4000 Andy Kendall

Mike Quarry wins a Majority Decision, but the fight was 'razor-close', and could have been declared a Draw.

Mike Quarry was the fighter that was 'worse for wear', as he was 'lumped-up' pretty good.

 

AREA 53,

Correct,

The Quarry Family (father Jack), just 4-weeks after the 'bruising battle' with Andy Kendall,
threw the 19 year-old Mike right back in the ring, with 'Canadian Tough-Guy',
Ron 'The Burnaby Brawler' Wilson (44-10-5).

February 27, 1971 (Valley Music Theatre Arena)

No rest for the 'weary', as 'Might Mike' has another 10-Round War, as Mike had to 'pull-out'
all the stops in the last 2-Rounds to hold on to a 10-Round Majority Decision win over
Ron Wilson.

Scorecards (6-4-0 / 6-4-0 / 4-4-2)

After the bout, Ron Wilson screamed, 'Fix, a complete fix. I backed up the kid in every round. The same
thing hapened to Andy Kendall last month. You can't get a fair decision in this joint'.

The win over Ron Wilson, improved 'Mighty Mike' Quarry to 27-0-0 (8 KO's),
and moved him up to the #8 Light-Heavyweight.

I guess the $3500 per fight Mike was making, helped finance the family.

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In March 1971,

Jack Quarry sent 'Mighty Mike' to Las Vegas, for some improvement on punching.

Something worked, as on April 13, 1971 - Mike scored a (KO 1) over Larry 'Sea' Cruz (4-10-0),
to improve to 28-0-0 (9 KO's).

Father Jack Quarry was trying to make some noise, about getting the 'new' WBA Light-Heavyweight
Champion, Vicente Rondon (Venezuela) to come to Las Vegas to fight 'Mighty Mike'.
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Wednesday Night - April 28, 1971 (Silver Slipper Casino)

On a Wedensday Night 'Fight on the Strip', #7 WBA Light-Heavyweight 'Mighty Mike' Quarry 28-0-0 (9 KO's)
takes on Arizona Light-Heavyweight Champion, Hill Chambers 13-8-1 (4 KO's).

The 5' 11", 175 lb. - Hill Chambers is a durable, but light-hitting 'trial-horse'. With several Network Television
Sports observers in attendance, 'Mighty Mike' nearly gets upset by the Arizona Light-Heavyweight.

Hill Chambers, rocks Mike Quarry early in Round 2, and shakes Mike again in Rounds 3 and 4.
'Mighty Mike' rallies back in Rounds 5 and 6, to get back into the bout. But, in Round 7, Hill Chambers
lands a big right hand, which 'staggers' Quarry and has him on 'unsteady pins'.

The last '3' Rounds are fought on 'Even Terms', as Mike fights 'timidly', in fear of getting rocked again.

Scorcards; ( 47-45 / 48-45 / 45-47 )

'Mighty Mike' Quarry escapes with a '10-Round Split-Decision Win', and goes to 29-0-0 (9 KO's).

Most in attendance feel that it was Hill Chambers who 'deserved' the win, and 'Mighty Mike' was
the 'lucky winner'.

 

Not sure what Jack Quarry was doing to his 20 year-old son Mike.

But after a 'grueling' 10-Round fight on April 28, 1971 in Las Vegas.

He sends his son out again, two-weeks later on May 15, 1971 versus
Canadian 'tough guy', Ron 'The Burnaby Brawler' Wilson (46-12-5).

At the Valley Music Theatere Arena.

In a rematch of the earlier bout on February 17, 1971 -

This time 'Mighty Mike' has a little easier time, as he boxes 'smartly' over the 'first' 3-Rounds,
before opening up in Rounds 4 and 5.

Ron Wilson has his moments in Round 6, when he buckles Quarry's legs, but the Canadian
cannot follow up with anything heavy, and lets 'Mighty Mike' escape.

In Rounds 7 and 8, Mike dances and jabs, to take both Rounds, as Wilson cannot catch the
faster Californian.

Ron Wilson puts on heavy pressure in the last '2-Rounds' to make the fight a bit closer on
the Scorecards.

Scorecards ( 7-3-0 / 7-1-2 / 6-3-1 ) - Mike Quarry by a Unanimous Decision.

'Mighty Mike' bumps up to 30-0-0 (9 KO's).

 

T Booze,

Yes Billy Douglas fit into that 169 lbs. and under range.

As well as many Philly Fighters.

 

May 31, 1971

Again, just 2-weeks after a 'tough' 10-Round bout, 'Mighty Mike' Quarry is back at it again.

In another Don Fraser Promotion, in National City, California.

This time, it's San Diego Light-Heavyweight - Amado 'Leonardo' Vasquez 18-5-3 (6 KO's).

'Mighty Mike' and Amado Vasquez had fought a 'tough' 10-Round battle, 5-Months earlier, in December 1970.

This time, 'Mighty Mike' turns aggressor, and abandons his box-and-move style.
Scoring with left-right-left combinations, Mike Quarry fights one his most impressive
bouts, and slices up Amado's eyes.

Scoring with everything in the book, 'Mighty Mike' hurts Vasquez in Rounds 6 and 8,
with right-hand leads that have Vasquez reeling.

In Round 9, Amado Vasquez is badly cut above the eyes, and the bout is stopped by
TKO, at 2:23 of Round 9.

'Mighty Mike' Quarry improves to 31-0-0 (10 KO's).

Mike Quarry still maintains the #7 Light-Heavyweight ranking.

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LH71,

Great Job, as usual.

Clearly, back in 1971 - Jack Quarry was on to to something.

He liked 170 lbs., as the Super-Middleweight Limit.

It seems the California Boxing Gyms were loaded with 5' 11" 165 lb. to 170 lb. fighters,
who just couldn't get down to 160 lbs., and were just not big enough for 175 lbs.
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Saturday Night - August 14, 1971 (Convention Center, Anaheim, California)

A Regional Television Fight.

Local Anaheim boxer, 'Mighty Mike' Quarry goes 10-Rounds, in winning a one-sided Unanimous Decision
over San Franciciso Light-Heavyweight, Chuck Hamilton.

The 20 year-old Quarry, improves to 32-0-0, in maintaining his Top 10 World Rating. 'Mighty Mike'
scored with his usual variety of right-hand leads, and left-right combinations, in winning 8 of the 10 Rounds,
over the slow-footed Hamilton, who saw his record fall to 21-13-0.

Mike Quarry received a fight purse of $3000. The 26 year-old Chuck Hamilton received $2000.

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Friday Night - October 29, 1971 (Convention Center, Anaheim, California)

Mike Quarry's 'biggest fight'

Whats at stake; The NABF Light-Heavyweight Championship

'Mighty Mike' Mike Quarry
Age................20
Height.............5' 11"
Weight............174 lbs.
Record............32-0-0 (10 KO's)
Ranking...........#7 WBA / #7 WBC

Jimmy 'The Cat' Dupree
Age................35
Height.............6' 0"
Weight............175 lbs.
Record............33-6-2 (19 KO's)
Ranking...........#2 WBA / #4 WBC, and also the NABF Light-Heavyweight Champion

Jimmy 'The Cat' will be Mike Quarry's toughest opponent in this scheduled 12-Round bout.

Jimmy Dupree has gone 13-1-1 (8 KO's) over the last 3 1/2-years, and his only loss was to
Vicente Rondon in a bout for the 'vacant' WBA Light-Heavyweight Championship.

Currently ranked as the #2 Light-Heavyweight, Jimmy Dupree was also the #1 Light-Heavyweight
in 1970.

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