Ike Quartey


Isufu "Ike" Quartey 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.

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

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.
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.
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 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, 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, and much of the crowd in attendance, who responded with a semi-raucous chorus of boos and repeated chants of "Bullshit!" after the fight. 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Loss37–4–1Winky WrightUD122 Dec 2006St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, US
41Loss37–3–1Vernon ForrestUD105 Aug 2006Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
40Win37–2–1Carlos BojorquezTKO10, 2:123 Dec 2005Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
39Win36–2–1Verno PhillipsUD1018 Jun 2005FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, US
38Win35–2–1Clint McNeilTKO8 14 Jan 2005Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
37Loss34–2–1Fernando VargasUD1215 Apr 2000Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USFor IBF junior-middleweight title
36Loss34–1–1Oscar De La Hoya1213 Feb 1999Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, USFor WBC and lineal welterweight titles
35Draw34–0–1José Luis López1217 Oct 1997Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USRetained WBA welterweight title
34Win34–0Ralph JonesKO5, 1:0818 Apr 1997Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, USRetained WBA welterweight title
33Win33–0Oba Carr124 Oct 1996Paramount Theater, New York City, New York, USRetained WBA welterweight title
32Win32–0Vince PhillipsTKO3, 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, 0:4423 Aug 1995La Palestre, Le Cannet, FranceRetained WBA welterweight title
29Win29–0Jung-Oh ParkTKO4, 2:554 Mar 1995Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USRetained WBA welterweight title
28Win28–0Bobby ButtersTKO3 4 Feb 1995Palais des Sports, Castelnau-de-Guers, France
27Win27–0Alberto de las Mercedes CortesTKO5, 2:031 Oct 1994Arena de Cosets, Carpentras, FranceRetained WBA welterweight title
26Win26–0Crisanto EspañaTKO11 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 Rivera1024 Jun 1993Vélodrome, Bordeaux, France
23Win23–0Mario Morales86 Mar 1993Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France
22Win22–0Floyd WilliamsKO4 6 Feb 1993Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, France
21Win21–0Martin QuirozKO420 Jan 1993Avoriaz, Morzine, France
20Win20–0Jose LugoKO15 Dec 1992Palais des Sports, Berck, France
19Win19–0Steve BarrerasTKO3, 2:5021 Oct 1992Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, US
18Win18–0Alfredo Horacio JaurenaTKO1 25 Jun 1992Acquaflash, Licola, ItalyRetained WBC International light-welterweight title
17Win17–0Juan Carlos Ceferino VillarrealTKO5 15 Apr 1992San Pellegrino, ItalyRetained WBC International light-welterweight title
16Win16–0Dindo CanoyTKO1 7 Mar 1992Accra, GhanaWon vacant WBC International light-welterweight title
15Win15–0Kelcie BanksTKO7, 2:052 Nov 1991Fiscalini Field, San Bernardino, California, US
14Win14–0Alafia ApovoKO410 Aug 1991Accra, Ghana
13Win13–0Sammy ClayKO2 4 May 1991Accra, GhanaRetained ABU light-welterweight title
12Win12–0Humberto RodriguezKO116 Mar 1991Pabellón Príncipe Felipe, Zaragoza, Spain
11Win11–0Mohammed MuritalaKO1 15 Dec 1990Accra, GhanaWon vacant ABU light-welterweight title
10Win10–0Jean Claude N'KodoKO128 Apr 1990Accra, Ghana
9Win9–0Tubor BriggsTKO1 2 Dec 1989Accra, GhanaRetained West African light-welterweight title
8Win8–0Arc-Wash JohnsonKO2 21 Oct 1989Accra, GhanaWon vacant Ghanaian light-welterweight title
7Win7–0Adenko DekaKO1 9 Sep 1989Accra, Ghana
6Win6–0Simon Peter McIntosh4 17 Jul 1989Accra, Ghana
5Win5–0Anor AmissahTKO8 10 Jun 1989Accra, Ghana
4Win4–0Aaron Duribe5 29 Apr 1989Accra, Ghana
3Win3–0Jaffa BallogouKO2 22 Apr 1989Accra, GhanaWon vacant West African light-welterweight title
2Win2–0Steven GabienuKO1 26 Dec 1988Accra, Ghana
1Win1–0Mama Mohamed2 26 Nov 1988Accra, Ghana