Article on Quarry's condition in his final years.

I`ve always been a fan of Quarry. I thought he was a helluva guy and a damn good fighter. He would fight anyone. He kind of reminded me of Holyfield both in style and courage. The combinations he threw and the speed he had. He paid a price though.

 

Very sad. Quarry was a lot of fun to watch and added a lot of color to the division when it was at its best and most colorful.

 

It's criminal that he was allowed to fight on so long.

 

Especially that last fight that somehow was sanctioned in some backwater place.

Ron Lyle and Ernie Shavers were also allowed to fight when 50 or close to it. But, they didn't already have Dementia like Quarey.

 

Yeah, even Quarry's 1983 comeback (two fights, two wins) was after he'd failed brain tests and his damage was well-known and had been publicized in the media.
By the time of his 1992 fight he was already in a state of dementia.

 

Ill never forget a friend of mine and I were discussing that Quarry comeback bout in the 1990s and he the location was so backwoods that the undercard featured a tractor pull. My drink came out of my nose I was laughing so hard.

 

I remember reading that article. It really shook me at the time. I ended up writing a short story based on it. I was a crappy writer.

 

I've always wondered how some fighters live long lives without that kind of damage, while others like Quarry live into their 50's and have dementia. Archie Moore for instance had well over 200 fights and lived a few days short of his 85th birthday and was in his right mind. Then you have fighters like Jerry Quarry.