Ike Quartey

Last updated
Ike Quartey
Born
Isufu Quartey

(1969-11-27) 27 November 1969 (age 55)
Accra, Ghana
Nationality Ghanaian
Other namesBazooka
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm) [1]
Reach71 in (180 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights42
Wins37
Wins by KO31
Losses4
Draws1

Isufu "Ike" Quartey (born 27 November 1969) was a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2006. He held the WBA welterweight title from 1994 to 1998, and challenged once for IBF junior-middleweight title in 2000. [2]

Contents

Early years and amateur career

Quartey is a member of Accra's Ga tribe. He is the youngest of 27 children. His father reportedly had five wives. His older brother Isaac Quartey won a silver medal in the 1960 Olympics. He was born in Bukom where fighting was a hobby. He fought on the streets and trained in the same gym as Azumah Nelson. [3]

Quartey had an amateur record of 50–4, and represented Ghana as a Light Welterweight at 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. [4]

Professional career

Quartey turned professional in 1988, a day short of his nineteenth birthday. He started his boxing career under the guidance of Yoofi Boham, without doubt the most successful manager in Ghana, and also father-in-law of former World boxing champion Azumah Nelson. [5]

Boham got Quartey recognized as a boxer on the international scene. Boham managed Quartey alongside Alfred "The Cobra" Kotey and gave them the names Bazooka and Cobra. Quartey and Kotey were so close that many thought they were brothers. [6]

Quartey began his professional career with a 2nd-round knockout of Mama Mohamed. Most of Quartey's early fights were staged in Ghana, before he relocated to France.

WBA welterweight champion

In Quartey's 26th fight he was given a shot at the WBA welterweight title, held by the then undefeated Crisanto España of Venezuela. Quartey knocked out España in the 11th round. At the time of the stoppage one judge had Quartey ahead, one had him behind and a third judge had the fight even.

He defended his title successfully seven times. Among his foes were Alberto Cortes, Vince Phillips, and Oba Carr. In October 1997 he fought José Luis López to a draw. The decision was originally read as a win for Quartey but reversed when a flaw was found in the scoring. Although Quartey was down twice, most observers felt that he deserved the victory and his reputation suffered little damage.

Personal, business and health issues kept Quartey out of the ring until February 1999. His inactivity led him to be stripped of his WBA title.

Quartey vs. De La Hoya

Quartey returned from a 14-month absence to challenge Lineal/WBC welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas, Nevada on 13 February 1999. Quartey was floored in 6th and 12th rounds, with De La Hoya also down in the 6th round. De La Hoya came away with a close, albeit controversial split decision. Quartey’s interest in boxing waned after this defeat. [7]

Quartey vs. Vargas

Following the defeat to De La Hoya, Quartey would take another 14-month hiatus from the ring. He returned in April 2000 to challenge Fernando Vargas for the IBF light-middleweight championship. Quartey was defeated by a unanimous decision with scores of 116-111 twice and 114–113.

Following this fight, Quartey would not fight for another five years.

Return to the ring

Quartey returned to the ring in January 2005. He won the first three bouts of his comeback with victories over Clint McNeil, Verno Phillips and Carlos Bojorquez. On 5 August 2006, he lost a close unanimous decision to former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest at Madison Square Garden, New York by scores of 93–96, 94–95, & 94–95. CompuBox stats showed Quartey outlanding Forrest (201 out of 481, 42% for Quartey; 184 of 818, 22% for Forrest), and Forrest was docked 1 point for a low blow in the 9th round. The decision was deemed controversial by most ringsider reporters, HBO's ringside commentators (including "unofficial scorer" Harold Lederman), and much of the crowd in attendance, who responded with a semi-raucous chorus of boos and repeated chants of "Bullshit!" after the fight. [8] [9] On 2 December 2006, Quartey's fought former undisputed light-middleweight champion Ronald "Winky" Wright at the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida. Quartey was down once in the fight and went on to lose a unanimous points decision.

Boxing style

Quartey's best weapon was his jab, which was considered to be one of the best in boxing while he was in his prime. He primarily relied on a "peek-a-boo" or "clam-shell" defense, which consisted of him allowing punches to land on his arms, elbows and gloves which he kept held tightly to his cheeks and ribcage.

Professional boxing record

42 fights37 wins4 losses
By knockout310
By decision54
By disqualification10
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Loss37–4–1 Winky Wright UD122 Dec 2006 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, US
41Loss37–3–1 Vernon Forrest UD105 Aug 2006 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
40Win37–2–1 Carlos Bojorquez TKO10 (10), 2:12 3 Dec 2005 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
39Win36–2–1 Verno Phillips UD1018 Jun 2005 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, US
38Win35–2–1Clint McNeilTKO8 (10)14 Jan 2005 Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
37Loss34–2–1 Fernando Vargas UD1215 Apr 2000 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USFor IBF junior-middleweight title
36Loss34–1–1 Oscar De La Hoya SD12 13 Feb 1999 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, USFor WBC welterweight title
35Draw34–0–1 José Luis López MD1217 Oct 1997 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USRetained WBA welterweight title
34Win34–0Ralph JonesKO5 (12), 1:0818 Apr 1997 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, USRetained WBA welterweight title
33Win33–0 Oba Carr MD124 Oct 1996 Paramount Theater, New York City, New York, USRetained WBA welterweight title
32Win32–0 Vince Phillips TKO3 (12), 2:3112 Apr 1996Atlantis Casino, Sint Maarten, Netherlands AntillesRetained WBA welterweight title
31Win31–0Jorge RamirezTKO43 Feb 1996Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France
30Win30–0Andrew MurrayTKO4 (12), 0:4423 Aug 1995La Palestre, Le Cannet, FranceRetained WBA welterweight title
29Win29–0Jung-Oh ParkTKO4 (12), 2:55 4 Mar 1995 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USRetained WBA welterweight title
28Win28–0Bobby ButtersTKO3 (8)4 Feb 1995Palais des Sports, Castelnau-de-Guers, France
27Win27–0Alberto de las Mercedes CortesTKO5 (12), 2:031 Oct 1994Arena de Cosets, Carpentras, FranceRetained WBA welterweight title
26Win26–0 Crisanto España TKO11 (12)4 Jun 1994Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, FranceWon WBA welterweight title
25Win25–0Lonnie SmithPTS1016 Oct 1993Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France
24Win24–0Moises RiveraPTS1024 Jun 1993 Vélodrome, Bordeaux, France
23Win23–0Mario MoralesUD86 Mar 1993 Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France
22Win22–0Floyd WilliamsKO4 (8)6 Feb 1993 Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, France
21Win21–0Martin QuirozKO420 Jan 1993 Avoriaz, Morzine, France
20Win20–0Jose LugoKO15 Dec 1992Palais des Sports, Berck, France
19Win19–0Steve BarrerasTKO3 (6), 2:5021 Oct 1992 Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, US
18Win18–0Alfredo Horacio JaurenaTKO1 (12)25 Jun 1992Acquaflash, Licola, ItalyRetained WBC International light-welterweight title
17Win17–0Juan Carlos Ceferino VillarrealTKO5 (12)15 Apr 1992San Pellegrino, ItalyRetained WBC International light-welterweight title
16Win16–0Dindo CanoyTKO1 (12)7 Mar 1992Accra, GhanaWon vacant WBC International light-welterweight title
15Win15–0Kelcie BanksTKO7 (10), 2:052 Nov 1991 Fiscalini Field, San Bernardino, California, US
14Win14–0Alafia ApovoKO410 Aug 1991Accra, Ghana
13Win13–0Sammy ClayKO2 (12)4 May 1991Accra, GhanaRetained African light-welterweight title
12Win12–0Humberto RodriguezKO116 Mar 1991 Pabellón Príncipe Felipe, Zaragoza, Spain
11Win11–0Mohammed MuritalaKO1 (12)15 Dec 1990Accra, GhanaWon vacant African light-welterweight title
10Win10–0Jean Claude N'KodoKO128 Apr 1990Accra, Ghana
9Win9–0Tubor BriggsTKO1 (12)2 Dec 1989Accra, GhanaRetained West African light-welterweight title
8Win8–0Arc-Wash JohnsonKO2 (12)21 Oct 1989Accra, GhanaWon vacant Ghanaian light-welterweight title
7Win7–0Adenko DekaKO1 (10)9 Sep 1989Accra, Ghana
6Win6–0Simon Peter McIntoshDQ4 (10)17 Jul 1989Accra, Ghana
5Win5–0Anor AmissahTKO8 (10)10 Jun 1989Accra, Ghana
4Win4–0Aaron DuribeTKO5 (8)29 Apr 1989Accra, Ghana
3Win3–0Jaffa BallogouKO2 (12)22 Apr 1989Accra, GhanaWon vacant West African light-welterweight title
2Win2–0Steven GabienuKO1 (6)26 Dec 1988Accra, Ghana
1Win1–0Mama MohamedKO2 (6)26 Nov 1988 Accra, Ghana

Pay-per-view bouts

DateFightBillingBuysNetwork
February 13, 1999
De La Hoya vs. QuarteyThe Challenge570,000 [10] HBO

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References

  1. 1 2 HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the Oscar De La Hoya fight.
  2. Spousta, Tom (2000-04-14). "BOXING; Vargas and Quartey Take Status Problems Into the Ring (Published 2000)". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  3. "Nelson Azumah". mobile.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  4. Juipe, Dean (1996-07-19). "Boxer has traveled the long road - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  5. "Africa | Bukom: heartbeat of African boxing". BBC News . 2003-06-25. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  6. "Alfred Kotey Interview". Eastsideboxing.com. 1994-07-30. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  7. "I lost interest in boxing — Ike Quartey". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. "Vernon Forrest vs Ike Quartey - 4/4". YouTube. 1995-03-04. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  9. "Forrest wins unanimous - and controversial - decision". ESPN . 2006-08-05. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  10. Pay-Per-View History Archived 2007-06-06 at the Wayback Machine at about.com
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Inaugural champion West African
light-welterweight champion

22 April 1989 – December 1990
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Stephen Okine
Ghanaian
light-welterweight champion

21 October 1989 – December 1990
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Kofi Jantuah
Vacant
Title last held by
Valery Kayumba
ABU light-welterweight champion
15 December 1990 – March 1992
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Habib Mahjoub
Vacant
Title last held by
Guillermo Mosquera
WBC International
light-welterweight champion

7 March 1992 – February 1993
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Jan Piet Bergman
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA welterweight champion
4 June 1994 – 19 August 1998
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
James Page