Mike Quarry ~ Forced To Fight On By Father ~ 'Road To Palookaville'

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 6, 1981

Sydney, Australia

~ Mike Quarry Talks About Career, and Upcoming Bout ~

The once handsome fighter with the boyish-looks, now has the 'scarred'
face of an older fighter. Only 1-month shy of Age 30, Quarry looks completely
worn down. His once tight-body, is now a 'soft' torso.

Mike Quarry>

I have been here for nearly 2-Weeks getting ready. I was supposed to fight
Bunny Johnson last Sunday {February 1st}, but the Promoter {Peter Foster}
pushed it back another week to do more promoting.

That was good, because it gave me an extra week to prepare. I've lost 6 1/2
Pounds since I've been here, and I feel just about right.

They are expecting 4000 plus on Sunday at the Horden Pavillion, but they are
hoping for a turn-out of close to 5000.

I've been staying here at the Hilton Hotel, where they treat me great. This is
a 4-Star Hotel, with all the 'specialties'. This young 18 year-old Promoter is
doing the right thing for the boxers. All 'First Class' accommodations.

This kid is going to be big in the future. He's really bright, and has some good
advisors with him.

As for my career. This 'is it'. I win here, and then it's Tony Mundine next. I'm
ready for {Bunny} Johnson. I'll box a little, then 'Rope-a-Dope' some, and then
take him out in the 8th Round. He's an old veteran, but he's still got a little
something left, so I'll have to wear him down some before opening up.

I just have to be careful early, for the first 4 or 5 Rounds. I'm not as fast as I once
was, but I'm still clever in the Ring when I want to be. When it's all on the line,
that is when I'm at my best.

Regarding my career >

I was on a roll in 1976. I was supposed to fight John Conteh for the WBC Championship,
and then he pulled out {claiming a bad cold}. It was total 'Bullshit'.

Then I accepted a 'foolish' bout. It was on December 11, 1976. It was back in
New York City. I lost a tough10-Round 'Majority' Decision to Mike Rossman. It was a
'mistake' to fight him in New York City, because he was a Madison Square Garden fighter.

He was 'Jewish', and I got jobbed by '2' Jewish Judges. I watch the film of that bout
all the time, and I won that fight. It was 'close', but I won it.