Marquis Grant

From The Great Outdoor Fight

Great Outdoor Fight Champion of 1965. Mark "Marquis" Grant ("The Marquis of Acresbury") was raised in New Jersey. In 1958, Grant enrolled as a pre-med student at Harvard on a wrestling scholarship. He participated in eight Fights, from 1960 to 1965, and then from 1967-1969. He was 2,002nd left standing in the 1960 fight and 1,342nd left standing in 1961. In 1961 Grant dropped out of college, legally changed his name, and dedicated himself full time to the pursuit of fighting excellence. Throughout the early sixties Grant was a fixture of the Boston Underground Tavern Brawls, where his knowledge of anatomy and his strong grip served him well. After a particularly spectacular fight he befriended fellow Brawler Stanley "Grip" Brown.

In 1963, he partnered with 1966 Champion Stanley "Grip" Brown. He and Brown made it to the Last Eight Standing, when Fresh Freddy Fiero took down Brown. Grant attempted to rescue Brown, only to be cut down with a rabbit punch from behind by that year's winner, Victor Shaw. Grant was seventh man standing, that year.

In 1964, Brown and Grant devoted themselves to paying back Victor Shaw for what he did. They caught up to Shaw on day three, crippling him and ending his career and taking him down as thirty-fourth left standing. Grant made it to eleventh left standing, Brown ninth.

In 1965, the pair made their third joint appearance in the Great Outdoor Fight. This time, unencumbered by revenge and both seasoned veterans of the Fight, the pair became two of the most prominent leaders on the field. Both easily making it to Day Three, the pair were both in the last five standing. However, his 1965 championship came at the cost of his friendship with Brown. In a surprise attack, Grant grabbed Brown from behind in a sleeper hold while the latter was occupied fighting Hector DeMedici. There are persistent rumors that the torn hamstring which kept Grant out of the 1966 fight was an injury inflicted by Brown in an off-the-Acres confrontation. However, both men claimed that while they had words, they never threw punches. Still, the two had bad blood that lasted until 1974, when they reconciled and made several joint public appearances.

Promoters played up the potential feud between the two former friends. It was thought that 1966 would be the year the pair would clash. However, Grant tore a hamstring two days before the Fight and was unable to compete. Brown won the Fight that year, and parlayed his win and popularity into a broadcasting and regional wrestling career, retiring from the Fight. Fantasy Fight League veterans often call a rematch between Brown and Grant one of the top five greatest Fights that never was.

Grant returned to the Fight in 1967, but bad luck caused him to be coldcocked on Day one (2,512th left standing). In 1967 he returned to his old form, finishing seventh before being taken out by Branden Manuel Bousum, that year's champion.

1968 saw Grant taken down in the darkness between days two and three, by Georg Straub (438th left standing). Straub dislocated his shoulder and gave him a compound fracture of the upper left leg. Grant recovered slowly, and went against Doctor's Orders by joining the 1969 Fight. Unfortunately, he was nowhere near in Fight condition that year, and it was almost a mercy when he was brought down by newcomer Ben Turner on day one, just twenty minutes into the Fight (2987th left standing). Grant tried to qualify for the 1970 Fight, but was unable to make minimum medical clearance.

Grant did personal appearances, particularly in the deep south and Europe, over the next several years. He reconciled with "Grip" Brown, and did joint appearances with him in the late 70's. He died of a heart attack on September 3, 1981.

[edit] Record

• 1960 - eliminated day 1, 2,002th left standing.
• 1961 - eliminated day 2, 1,342nd left standing.
• 1963 - eliminated day 3, 7th left standing.
• 1964 - eliminated day 3, 11th left standing.
• 1965 - Champion, Last Man Standing.
• 1967 - eliminated day 1, 2,512th left standing.
• 1968 - eliminated day 3 (roughly), 438th left standing.
• 1969 - eliminated day 1, 2,987th left standing