Ike Quartey

Ike Quartey, a Ghanaian professional boxer, had a remarkable 18-year career in the ring. Quartey fought in 42 professional bouts and emerged victorious in 37, with one draw and four losses. Out of his 37 wins, he knocked out 31 opponents, earning him the nickname "Bazooka." Quartey's boxing talent shone through from an early age, as he won his first professional fight at the age of 18.

He went on to dominate the welterweight division in the 1990s, and his impressive performances garnered him recognition as one of the top welterweights of his era. Quartey's success culminated in his winning the WBA welterweight title at age 24, after defeating Crisanto España via 11th round TKO.

Throughout his career, Quartey defended his title six times, with four of those defenses ending in knockouts. His 1995 defense against Jung-Oh Park is one of his best performances, where he won the fight via 4th round TKO. Quartey's win against Andrew Murray and Vince Phillips in 1995 and 1996, respectively, were also impressive wins as both resulted in Quartey's winning via 4th round TKOs.

Two of Quartey's toughest fights were against Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Quartey's 1999 fight against De La Hoya for the WBC welterweight title was his first loss in a title bout, losing via a 12 round split-decision. Despite losing, Quartey's performance was remarkable, having never been knocked out in his career. In his fight against Vargas in 2000, Quartey was favored to win but lost via unanimous decision after a hard-fought battle.

Quartey retired from professional boxing in 2006 with a record of 37-4-1, including 31 knockouts. Although his career ended over a decade ago, Quartey's name still remains synonymous with Ghanaian boxing, and he is still widely regarded as one of the best boxers to come out of Africa.

Despite his withdrawal from the sport, Quartey's boxing legacy still remains relevant to this day. Many young boxers look up to Quartey as a source of inspiration, and archives of his high-level boxing bouts are still enjoyed by boxing enthusiasts. For instance, Quartey's match against Ralph Jones on April 18, 1997, where he won via 5th round KO, remains a classic piece of boxing history that continues to be revisited by many.

Furthermore, Quartey's boxing career is a testament to Ghana's rich history of boxing, where many great fighters have come from. Quartey's success and the ensuing recognition further helped to promote Africa as a destination for growing and competitive boxers.

In conclusion, from defeating Mama Mohamed in his debut fight to winning the WBA welterweight title to being known as "Bazooka," Ike Quartey's boxing career is a rollercoaster of exhilarating boxing performances. He became a legend, and his 18-year career exemplifies the excellence that comes with dedication, hard work, and talent. Many may have forgotten Quartey's brilliance in the ring, but his name remains one of the most respected and celebrated in the history of African boxing.

Ike Quartey Fight Record