Ike Quartey

Last updated
Ike Quartey
Born
Isufu Quartey

(1969-11-27) 27 November 1969 (age 54)
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) is 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 Espana 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 SD1213 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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez</span> Mexican boxer (born 1962)

Julio César Chávez González, also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight titles between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991. He also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar De La Hoya</span> Mexican-American boxer (born 1973)

Oscar De La Hoya is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. His accolades include winning 11 world titles in six weight classes, including lineal championships in three weight classes. De La Hoya was nicknamed "The Golden Boy of boxing" by the media when he represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics where, shortly after having graduated from James A. Garfield High School, he won a gold medal in the lightweight division, and reportedly "set a sport back on its feet."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fernando Vargas</span> American boxer

Fernando Javier Vargas is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2007. He was a two-time light middleweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 1998 to 2000, and the WBA title from 2001 to 2002. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the light welterweight division at the 1995 Pan American Games, and reached the second round of the welterweight bracket at the 1996 Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Mosley</span> American boxer

Shane Mosley, often known by his nickname "Sugar" Shane Mosley, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2016. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF lightweight title; the WBA (Super) and WBC welterweight titles; and the WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring magazine light middleweight titles. He was also a lineal champion at welterweight (twice) and light middleweight.

Ricardo Antonio Mayorga Perez is a Nicaraguan professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. In boxing he is a former two-weight world champion, having held the unified WBA (Unified), WBC, Ring magazine, and lineal welterweight titles in 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title from 2005 to 2006. Mayorga first became well known to boxing fans upon being featured on the cover of The Ring's December 2003 issue, entitled "The craziest man in the sport: Mayorga lights up boxing." He has since maintained this infamous reputation with his relentless trash-talk in the build-up to most of his fights, as well as his smoking and drinking habits outside the ring.

Azumah Nelson is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC featherweight title from 1984 to 1987 and the WBC super-featherweight title twice between 1988 and 1997. He also challenged once for the unified WBC and IBF lightweight titles in 1990. At regional level, he held the ABU, and Commonwealth featherweight titles between 1980 and 1982. Widely considered one of the greatest African boxers of all time, he is currently ranked as the 69th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time by BoxRec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing in the 1980s</span> Overview of boxing in the 1980s

Boxing in the 1980s was filled with important fights, events and personalities that shaped the sport. Boxing in the 1980s was shaped by many different situations, such as the continuous corporate battles between the different world sanctioning organizations, the void left by Muhammad Ali as the sport's ambassador and consequent search for a new boxing hero, the continuous presence of Don King as the sport's most famous promoter, the surge of rival promoters as Bob Arum, Butch Lewis and Murad Muhammad, and major rule changes. In 1986, Mike Tyson emerged as a fresh new face in the heavyweight division, which had seen a decline in champion quality level after Ali's retirement and, later on, after longtime WBC ruler Larry Holmes' prime. In addition, the IBF and WBO began operating.

Pernell Whitaker Sr. was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.

Terry Wayne Norris is an American former boxer, prizefighter and a three time world champion in the light-middleweight (super-welterweight) division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cory Spinks</span> American boxer

Cory Spinks is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2013. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed welterweight title from 2003 to 2005, and the IBF junior middleweight title twice between 2006 and 2010. Additionally, he challenged once for the lineal middleweight title in 2007.

Ronald Lamont "Winky" Wright is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2012. He is a two-time light middleweight world champion and was the last to hold the undisputed title at that weight until Jermell Charlo in 2022. In his later career he also challenged for a unified middleweight world title. He announced his retirement from boxing in 2012, following a loss to Peter Quillin.

Light middleweight, also known as junior middleweight or super welterweight, is a weight class in boxing but also may include other combat sports.

Vernon Forrest was an American professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBC, IBF, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight between 2002 and 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title twice between 2007 and 2009. In 2002, Forrest was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Baldomir</span> Argentine boxer

Carlos Manuel Baldomir is an Argentine former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He held the WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles in 2006, and challenged once for the WBC super welterweight title in 2007. On July 31, 2019, Baldomir was sentenced to 18 years in prison for molesting his 8 year old daughter over a period of 2 years. In March 2020, false rumors spread that Baldomir had been killed in a prison riot after a picture was shared online of a deceased prisoner that bore a striking resemblance to the disgraced boxer.

As in the 1980s, the 1990s in boxing's popularity focused on all divisions. When 1980s legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, as well as others retired, newer superstars filled the void: Pernell Whitaker, Julio César Chávez, in the early 1990s, Oscar De La Hoya, Félix Trinidad, Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the mid to late 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Geale</span> Australian boxer

Daniel Geale is an Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2016. He held the unified WBA (Super) and IBF middleweight titles between 2011 and 2013, and the IBO middleweight title from 2007 to 2009. As an amateur boxer, Geale won a welterweight gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

David Kotei Poision, popularly called "D.K. Poison", is a former world featherweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1976. He is the first Ghanaian professional boxer to win a world title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Félix Trinidad vs. Bernard Hopkins</span> Boxing competition

Félix Trinidad vs. Bernard Hopkins, billed as And Then There Was One, was a boxing match that took place on September 29, 2001, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, between WBC and IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and WBA middleweight champion Félix Trinidad to unify all three titles and decide the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler. The winner would also become The Ring middleweight champion. The undercard featured championship fights in three other weight classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pernell Whitaker vs. Oscar De La Hoya</span> Boxing competition

Pernell Whitaker vs. Oscar De La Hoya, billed as Pound for Pound, was a professional boxing match contested on April 12, 1997 for the WBC welterweight championship.

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 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