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

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ November 19, 1974

Sam Houston Coliseum ~ Houston Texas

Promoter ......... Pete Ashlock

Attendance ....... 2475 ....
Gate Receipts.... $17,570

* Texas Light-Heavyweight Championship

* Mike Quarry - 43-5-3 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ 175 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 8 months}
vs.
* Frankie Evans - 21-17-1 {15 KO's} ~ 6' 0" ~ 176 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 2 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Frankie Evans Runs Out On Ring Career ~

Texas Light-Heavyweight Champion - Frankie Evans walked out of the Coliseum tonight, just 30-Minutes
before his Title Defense against Mike Quarry.

In a bizarre twist of events, Evans walked out of his dressing-room and out of the Arena which had
{ 2475 fans} waiting for the 'Main Event'.

Fight Promoter - Pete Ashlock > had to get into the Ring and explain just what had happened to the
disappointed crowd, who erupted with a chorus of boo's.

Pete Ashlock said to the crowd >
"Frankie Evans just walked out of the arena. He ran out on everybody. I will reimburse everyone
who has purchased a ticket."

Pete Ashlock also stated that > Mike Quarry would be awarded the Texas Light-Heavyweight Championship,
and that he was giving him the 'State Trophy'.

Mike Quarry >
"Frankie Evans is 'yellow'. That's all I want to say. How in the Hell did this guy get '39-Bouts' in his career.

Mike Quarry also 'refused' the State Trophy, stating that he wanted to win it in the Ring, and did
not want to accept it under these circumstances.

Mike Quarry >
"I'll fight any Light-Heavyweight in Texas. I think that the Texas Boxing Commission has '111' guys listed.
They can pick anyone of them. Just make sure that they get into the Ring, that's all I ask."

Mike Quarry was supposed to receive {22% of the Gate} as a Fight Purse, which was to total > { $3865 }

Mike Quarry >
"It's not the money. I can deal with that. But I really needed this fight {work}. I trained for 6-Weeks in
Albuquerque for this fight. What a waste of time and effort."

~ As A Courtesy To The Fans ~

Mike Quarry sparred 3-Rounds with his brother Jerry, who was here in attendance to watch his brother's
bout.

Mike Quarry also sparred 3-Rounds with Houston Heavyweight - Jody Ballard.

~ Bizarre Twist ~

Frankie Evans stated that he was under the impression that the bout was scheduled for 10-Rounds. And that
he was supposed to receive { $1000 } as a Fight Purse for the bout.

Then 30-Minutes before the bout he was told that the bout was scheduled for 12-Rounds, as he was handed
a Cashiers Check for { $500 }.

Frankie Evans >
"I'm not fighting a 12-Rounder for a lousy { $500 }. Just who do they think I am, a 'garbage picker'. For a
12-Rounder I get { $1200 }. Now for what they did to me, I want { $1500 }, or I'm not getting into the Ring."

Frank Bonura {Manager for Frankie Evans} >
"I tried to get Frankie to get into the Ring. But he wasn't going for the { $500 }. Frankie had owed me { $225 },
and I told him to forget about paying me back, if he just got into the Ring and went through with the fight. But
he just got up from the chair in the dressing room, and walked straight out of the arena without saying a word."

"What can I do. I can't grab him and force him to fight. That's it, I'm done with him."

Pete Ashlock {Fight Promoter} >
"This guy {Frankie Evans} is crazy. The guy has lost '6' of his last 7-Bouts. He isn't worth { $1500 }. He should
be thanking me for getting him a fight. I was doing him a favor. I'll never book him again, ever."