IKE QUARTEY
PROFILE AND BIO

Ike Quartey has been fighting as a professional for over sixteen years. A former WBA Welterweight World Champion, he won the title in June 1994, and made seven successful defenses before vacating the title in 1997.

Following two consecutive, tough losses to Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas in 1999 and 2000 respectively, Quartey opted to retire . . . temporarily. In January 2005, he climbed through the ropes again to start a second career.

In Quartey's first fight back from his five-year layoff in January 2005, he knocked out the game Clint McNeil. After Quartey scored a knockdown in the seventh round and two knockdowns in the eighth, the referee stopped the fight.

Making his U.S. return to the ring in June 2005, Quartey fought Verno Phillips in a clash of former World Champions. Despite some early rust and being knocked down in the ninth round, Quartey came back with a heroic effort, displaying his awesome punching power in taking the tenth and final round en route to scoring a unanimous decision victory.

In April 2000, Quartey lost a twelve-round unanimous decision against defending World Junior Middleweight Champion, Fernando Vargas. The fight was close with both fighters exchanging punches for twelve rounds, but Vargas kept a busier pace and consistently landed the sharper punches, scoring a unanimous decision over Quartey.

Prior to the Vargas fight, in February 1999, Quartey faced off against Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya was effective early and scored a knockdown in the sixth, but Quartey came back and scored a knockdown of his own later in the round. Quartey rallied in the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds, but De La Hoya finished the fight strongly - he swept the last three rounds on two judges' scorecards. With all three judges scoring the twelfth round 10-8, after De La Hoya knocked Quartey down early in the round, Ike lost the controversial split decision to De La Hoya.

In October 1997, Quartey battled former WBO welterweight champion, Jose Luis Lopez to a draw to successfully retain his WBA welterweight crown for the seventh time (D 12). Quartey utilized his jackhammer left jab to build points and to set up his thunderous right hand. Lopez was unable to fend off Ike's lethal left jab, repeatedly absorbing the deadly accurate punch

Quartey seized the WBA welterweight championship by battering the undefeated Crisanto Espana in June 1994. Quartey's lethal combinations rocked Espana repeatedly until the 11th round when Espana collapsed to the canvas, unable to arise (KO 11). So impressive was Quartey's performance that respected fight film historian, Ray Poplowki asserted, "Quartey is a tremendous counter-puncher and keeps his hands up well to parry punches. I like his style."

With his spectacular victory, the newly crowned champion propelled himself to the pinnacle of a division already glistening with stars. Quartey defended his title three times in 1994 - 1995, stopping all three of his opponents within five rounds.

When asked about his comeback, Quartey stated, "I am back to win a world championship. I am back to cement my legacy. Every fight is the next step on that journey. I am not doing it for the fame or the money, I am doing it because I love boxing."

"The way he left boxing left a real bad taste in his mouth," promoter Lou DiBella said. "He lost close decisions to De La Hoya and Vargas, after he had a decision over Jose Luis Lopez changed to a draw. He was really never beaten up and when he left boxing, he was only 29 and still at the top. He saw Oscar get knocked out and saw Roy go to sleep, and he realized he is still good enough to compete with these guys. Ike is in great shape and looks like he hasn't been away from the ring for five weeks, let alone five years. His fight against former two-time World Champion, Verno Phillips proved that he is ready for any fighter in the world."