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

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ December 11, 1976

The Aladdin Hotel {Performing Arts Theater}

Attendance........... 2610
Gate Receipts ..... $26,100

* Mike Quarry - 58-7-4 {15 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ 175 lbs. ~ {Age; 25 years, 9 months}
vs.
* Mike Rossman - 27-3-3 {21 KO's} ~ 5' 11 1/2" ~ 166 1/4 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 5 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

Mike Quarry is slotted as the {9-5} Betting Favorite.

Quarry, ranked as the #5 WBC Light-Heavyweight, has been performing at his
best level during 1976.

Mike has gone unbeaten {8-0-1} since September 1975, and is slotted to challenge for
the Light Heavyweight Championship {either WBC or WBA}.

Mike Rossman, ranked as the #9 WBC Middleweight, has gone {5-1-2} since losing a
10-Round Decision to Mike Quarry back on September 30, 1975.

Rossman is coming of a 10-Round Draw with Christy Elliott last month {November 10th}.
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~ Rossman Gets 'Sweet Revenge', Decisions Quarry In Action Bout ~

Mike Rossman defeated Mike Quarry by a 10-Round Majority Decision at The Aladdin
Hotel, in a fast-paced action bout.

Both fighters went 'toe-to-toe' over the first 3-Rounds in an 'evenly' battled slug-fest.
Quarry focused on pounding 'left-right' punches to the mid-section, while Rossman
countered with hard right-hand crosses to the head.

Quarry was able to 'out-speed' Rossman in Round 4, as he continued to work the
mid-section with quick-bursts, as Rossman was late with his counters.



But in Round 5 > Rossman took over, as he landed several 'jarring' right-crosses to
Quarry's jaw coming out of the clinches which sent Quarry back-a-step, to take the
session handily.

Between Rounds 5 and 6, Quarry was 'spitting blood' from inside his mouth.

Rossman kept up the pressure on Quarry during Round 6, as he was clearly the
harder puncher between the battlers, as he landed with crisp 'left-right' one-two's.

But Quarry was able to edge Rossman in Round 7, as he used his 'quicker' footwork and
hand-speed to land with 'rapid-punches' before moving outside and away from any
counters.

In Rounds 8 and 9, Rossman was the stronger of the two, as the New Jersey Middleweight
landed with 'sharp' right-hand crosses and sweeping left-hands to Quarry's face each time
they came out of breaks.

By the end of Round 9, Quarry was sporting a 'swollen' left-eye.

Behind on Points, Quarry came out fast for {Round 10}, and rallied with a series of quick
'one-two' punches as he had Rossman covering up. But the punches lacked power, and
Rossman took the attack well while staying on the defensive and riding out the Decision
win.

Scorecards
* Judge - Hal Miller......... 47-45 = {5-3-2 in Rounds} > Mike Rossman
* Judge - Bill Kipp .......... 46-45 = {5-4-1 in Rounds} > Mike Rossman
* Judge - Lou Tabot ....... 46-46 = {4-4-2 in Rounds} > 'Even'

* The Associated Press ... 47-45 = {5-3-2 in Rounds} > Mike Rossman

Fight Purses
* Mike Quarry ......... $22,000 > {$10,000 from the 'previous' John Conteh fight contract, + $12,000 additional.} + {Hotel Expenses}

* Mike Rossman ...... $14,000 > {$9000 from the Gate Receipts and $5000 from CBS Television for the
broadcast rights.} + {Travel Expenses and Hotel Expenses}

~ After Bout Comments ~

Mike Quarry >
"It was close all the way. It could have easily been ruled a Draw."

Jerry Quarry >
"It was a good fight, and very entertaining. I'm asking the promoters and CBS-TV to put
together an immediate rematch. I think we can be ready to do it again in 10-Weeks {February 1977}.

Mike Rossman >
"I was much stronger down the stretch. I hurt Mike in the 5th Round, and he slowly faded
after that. But, he is a good competitor and never stops trying."

Carmine Graziano {Co-Manager for Mike Rossman} >
"It's all even now. 1-win for Quarry, and 1-win for Mike {Rossman}. If the money is right, we
should have a 3rd-Bout. Yes most definitely, we need another fight between the two."