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

[Bill Paxtom]

Chuck Hamilton {Sparring-partner for Mike Quarry}

I thought that Bob Foster killed Mike that night at the Convention Center in Las Vegas.
That 'left-hook' that Bob caught Mike with, would have flattened most Heavyweights.

It sounded like it went through Mike's jaw. Like a 'sledge-hammer' smashing a bone.
Just frightening.

Mike hit the canvas hard, and was laid out for 3-Minutes. I was really scared that he
wouldn't get up. When they got him back to the Corner, he sat on the stool for nearly
10-Minutes. He had no sense of where he was.

Back in the dressing-room, he was still 'in-a-fog', 30-Mintes after the bout. They didn't
even have good Medical people there to check him out. I felt so bad for Mike. He felt
that he let everybody down back home in Anaheim, California.

When I was alone with him, I told him that he should retire. He was a smart kid. I told
him to take his Fight Purse { $45,000 } and put it in the bank.

And I said > "Mike, go to College and get a Degree in Business."

But he just gazed at me and said > "But my Father wants me to be a Champion. He
would be upset if I gave up Boxing."

I just looked at the floor and shook my head. I knew that the kid would end up in
a bad way if he continued.