Ike Quartey

Ike Quartey was one of the finest welterweights of the 1990s, a fearsome puncher from the boxing heartland of Bukom who held a world title for four years and gave Oscar De La Hoya one of the toughest nights of his career.

Early life

He was born Isufu Quartey on 27 November 1969 in Accra, the youngest of 27 children in a Ga family from Bukom, the seaside neighbourhood that has produced more Ghanaian champions than anywhere else. He trained in the same gym as Azumah Nelson, and his elder brother had won Olympic silver decades earlier.

Amateur and Olympic career

He built an amateur record of 50 wins and four losses, and represented Ghana as a light welterweight at the 1988 Seoul Olympics before turning professional that same year, just short of his nineteenth birthday.

World champion

Nicknamed Bazooka for his heavy hands, he held the WBA welterweight title from 1994 to 1998, defending it repeatedly. His most famous night came in 1999 against Oscar De La Hoya, a razor-close contest that De La Hoya edged on the scorecards but which cemented Quartey's reputation as an elite fighter.

Legacy

He retired with a record of 37 wins, 32 by knockout, against four losses and a draw. Ike Quartey remains one of the greatest boxers Ghana has produced, a Bukom warrior who tested the very best in the world.

Frequently asked questions about Ike Quartey

How old is Ike Quartey?

Ike Quartey is 56 years old, born November 27, 1969.

What is Ike Quartey known for?

Ike Quartey is a Ghanaian boxer.

What is Ike Quartey's nationality?

Ike Quartey is Ghanaian.

More About This Person

The Legends of Ghanaian Boxing