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

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 24, 1978

Coliseum ~ San Diego, California

Attendance ........... 2175
Gate Receipts ....... $15,845

* Mike Quarry - 59-9-5 {15 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ 178 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 11 months}
vs.
* Ronnie Wilson - 64-28-7 {17 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ 172 lbs. ~ {Age; 28 years, 10 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

Mike Quarry continues in his 1978 'comeback run', as he is pushed by his Father 'Jack'.

Ronnie Wilson is a tough 11-Year veteran from Canada, but who is now based out of San Diego.

Ronnie, at one time was a Top 10 Light-Heavyweight in {1970 and 1971}, but since February 1972
> Ronnie has only gone { 9-15-2 } in '26-Bouts' while being stopped '5-Times.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Double Skinny ~

Fight Promoter - Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. has stated that he has 'signed' Mike Quarry to
face 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist - Michael Spinks on Friday - March 31st in Las Vegas on
a CBS-TV 'Friday Night Fight Special'

Mike Quarry >
"I have a lot riding on this bout. I have to look good, and then I get a TV Fight with Michael Spinks.
That is my ticket back into the Top 10."

~ Mike Quarry Wins, But Just Barely ~

Mike Quarry won an unimpressive 10-Round Split-Decision over veteran Ronnie Wilson that
was not well received by the Coliseum spectators in San Diego.

Quarry was dull-and-listless over the first-half of the bout, as he danced and flicked out an
occasional left-hook at the pressing Wilson.

In Round 4, Wilson turned up the heat, and caught Quarry with a big 'looping' right-hook,
that 'buckled' his Quarry's legs. Wilson then added in a volley of hooks, driving Quarry into a
corner where Wilson battered him.

But Quarry was able to 'edge' back into the bout during Rounds 6, 7 and 8 > as he came
back with 'fast' left-hooks and left-uppercuts, and chopping right-hands as he moved inside
on Wilson.

But over the last 2-Rounds {9 and 10}, both fighters were sloppy in their attack, and neither
had the fire-power left in their punches to do much scoring damage.

Scorecards
* 5-4 > Mike Quarry
* 4-3 > Ronnie Wilson
* 5-3 > Mike Quarry

Fight Purses
* Mike Quarry ............. $3485 = {22% of the Gate Receipts} + {Plus 3-Day Hotel Expenses}
* Ronnie Wilson .......... $2000

Mike Quarry >
"I was off my game tonight. But I still did more than enough to win. I just felt 'lazy' during the
first 5-Rounds."