Ike "Bazooka" Quartey, born Isufu Quartey on November 27, 1969, in Accra, Ghana, stands as a unique former professional boxer from Ghana. He is widely regarded as one of Africa's premier boxing talents, renowned for his formidable jab and unyielding determination inside the ring. From 1988 to 2006, Quartey built an impressive professional record of 37 victories (31 via knockout), 4 defeats, and 1 draw. He claimed the WBA welterweight championship from 1994 to 1998, sharing the era with elite welterweights such as Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker, and Felix Trinidad.
Raised in Bukom, a solid Accra neighborhood known for its street brawls, Quartey belongs to the Ga ethnic group. As the youngest among 27 siblings from his father's five marriages, he took up boxing at a young age, honing his skills in the same facility as Ghanaian boxing icon Azumah Nelson. His elder brother, Clement Isaac Quartey, earned a silver medal in boxing at the 1960 Olympic Games. Quartey excelled as an amateur, compiling a 50-4 record and competing for Ghana in the light welterweight division at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Quartey entered the professional ranks on November 26, 1988, shortly before turning 19, under the guidance of Yoofi Boham, a key figure in Ghanaian boxing and Azumah Nelson's father-in-law. He began his career in Ghana before relocating to France. Notable early successes included securing the vacant West African light-welterweight title in 1989, the Ghanaian light-welterweight title that same year, the African light-welterweight title in 1990, and the WBC International light-welterweight title in 1992.
His defining moment arrived on June 4, 1994, when he seized the WBA welterweight title with an 11th-round knockout of Crisanto España in France. Quartey successfully defended the belt seven times against challengers including Alberto de las Mercedes Cortes (TKO in round 5), Vince Phillips (TKO in round 3), Oba Carr (majority decision), and Andrew Murray (TKO in round 4). In 1997, he battled José Luis López to a majority draw in a contest overshadowed by a judging mistake (originally scored as a Quartey victory before revision). Personal, professional, and health challenges led to a 14-month absence, resulting in him being stripped of the title in 1998.
Upon his 1999 return,
Quartey vied for the WBC welterweight crown against Oscar De La Hoya in a blockbuster event that drew 570,000 pay-per-view purchases. Although he floored De La Hoya in the sixth round (after being dropped twice himself), he suffered a contentious split-decision loss. This setback eroded his enthusiasm for the sport. Following an extended break, he advanced to junior middleweight and contested the IBF title against Fernando Vargas in 2000, falling short by unanimous decision.
After a five-year sabbatical, Quartey staged a 2005 resurgence, triumphing in three bouts: a TKO against Clint McNeil, a unanimous decision over Verno Phillips, and a TKO versus Carlos Bojorquez. In 2006, he endured a controversial unanimous-decision defeat to Vernon Forrest (despite superior punch statistics) and a final loss to Ronald "Winky" Wright, where he was knocked down once.
Quartey was celebrated for his signature "bazooka" jab, considered among the finest in boxing annals, complemented by a compact "peek-a-boo" guard that allowed him to withstand heavy blows. His accolades encompass the WBA welterweight title (with seven defenses) and multiple regional honors. In retirement, he continues to engage with Ghana's boxing community, occasionally drawing media attention, such as his 2021 threat of legal proceedings over alleged defamation. As an enduring icon in Accra, Quartey inspires generations of budding Ghanaian boxers.
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