By Dr. Peter Edwards (photo courtesy of HBO)
Long layoffs, injuries, defeats and redemption make up the theme surrounding this weekend’s junior middleweight scrap between Ike Quartey (37-2-1, 31KOs) of Accra, Ghana and Vernon Forrest (37-2, 28KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia.
Quartey, returned to the ring in January 2005, after a near five-year layoff from boxing. During his undefeated run in the welterweight division, he took on all comers and stopped most of them inside the distance. The left jab of Quartey was one of the deadliest punches in the sport during the late 90’s. Feared for his power, many a fighter ducked him and some even left the division to avoid fighting him.
In 1994, Quartey picked up his first world title when he ventured to the country of France and stopped 30-0 Crisanto Espana in the 11th round to claim the WBA welterweight title. During his title reign, he walked through most of the competition with ease. Unable to secure a fight with any of the big names, he signed to fight Jose Luis Lopez in October 1997. Lopez was another welterweight who was feared at the time that was greatly avoided by many of the top welterweights.
Lopez was the 90’s version of Antonio Margarito, in terms of style, power and the type of fear he gave to opponents. Lopez was not the quickest fighter, but he was strong enough that he only needed to hit opponent once to change the momentum of the fight. When the fight was signed between Quartey and Lopez was signed, major fireworks were expected, and fireworks was exactly what the public received.
In a battle that saw both fighters hurt, Quartey hit the deck and plenty of power punches hitting their mark, the end result was an inconclusive draw. Quartey started fast to build a big lead, but began to eat big punches late in the fight as many fans were on the edge of their seats until the final bell. Originally the decision was awarded to Quartey, but a miscalculation of the scorecards later changed the result to a draw.
Lopez was the first opponent to really hurt Quartey and take him to the limit. One fighter watching with fight with financial interest was Oscar De La Hoya, who was the undefeated holder of the WBC welterweight title, and at the time he was arguably the most popular fighter in boxing.
A pay-per-view headlined by Quartey challenging De La Hoya was set for February 13, 1999. The fight was dangerous enough that De La Hoya had a rematch clause put in the contract. The meeting with Quartey may have been the first time De La Hoya had a rematch clause inserted within a fight contract.
Few knew what to expect, Quartey was coming off a long layoff, not having fought since the October 1997 fight with Lopez, and De La Hoya had never been in a war. The fight itself exceeded all expectations as both fighters gave as good as they got for twelve rounds of all-out action.
The first few rounds were a chess match, as both fighters used their boxing skills to claim superiority. The tempo of the fight picked up at the midway point as the showcase of boxing skills were done and a fight broke out. The 6th round saw Quartey knocked down by a patented De La Hoya left hook, only to knock De La Hoya down a few moments later to get the momentum of the fight on his side.
The two would battle with fierce intensity for the next couple of rounds as many observes had Quartey ahead on the scorecards going into the final round of the fight. The bell to start the final round had rung, and less than 30 seconds later De La Hoya once again landed the left hook to send Quartey back down to the mat. This time Quartey was hurt, De La Hoya sensing he was behind on the cards - went for the kill.
As De La Hoya was pounding away on Quartey against the ropes, it appeared like the referee would stop the fight, but the fact that Quartey kept throwing punches back was the only reason the fight was not stopped during the De La Hoya barrage. De La Hoya ended up punching himself out and now Quartey began to come back at the end of the round with his piston jab.
Even after a strong final round, the verdict split among spectators, some feeling Quartey had enough points in the bank to win. The judges were also split when the cards came down, De La Hoya won by way of a split-decision. Quartey felt robbed, he felt disgusted and he lost the passion to fight.
It was over a year before Quartey would return to the ring, against a young 18-0 Fernando Vargas. Like the De La Hoya fight, the Vargas encounter had plenty of action, but this time around, Quartey clearly lost the decision. Some say he wasn’t ready for the move to junior middleweight, and others said Quartey fought the wrong fight.
In denial of the loss, Quartey felt he was once again robbed and walked away from the sport for almost five years. During his “retirement,” he began to help build up the boxing scene in his native country of Ghana, but always denied rumored returns to the ring.
January 14, 2005 - Quartey made his return by stopping within 8 rounds in Ghana. On June 18, Quartey returned to HBO television by pitching a near shutout over Verno Phillips. Quartey was knocked down and hurt late in the fight, but used his experience to get his legs back and escape danger. Six months later he returned to stop Carlos Bojorquez in Las Vegas.
The tale of Vernon Forrest is a bit different. Forrest was an impressive amateur and began his career an impressive professional. He won his first piece of gold he snatched the vacant IBF welterweight title with an impressive points win over Raul Frank in May 2001.
Although Forrest was undefeated, had power and title, he was still being overlooked by the boxing public and most of the media. It was nothing against Forrest personally, but many felt his style of fighting was not exciting enough to market.
After a lengthy amount of pre-fight hype, a bout was signed with amateur rival Shane Mosley in January of 2002. The background story was Forrest beating Mosley in the amateurs. Mosley at the time was 38-0, had recently beaten Oscar De La Hoya and was considered by many as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Forrest vacated his IBF welterweight title to meet Mosley for his WBC version of the title.
After a slow first round, the unthinkable happened as Forrest connected with a series of punches that stunned Mosley against the ropes and a picture perfect uppercut that sent the best fighter in the world crashing down like a sack of potatoes. Moments later, Mosley was given a second trip to the canvas. Remarkable, Mosley who nearly out on his feet was able to make it to the end of the round, but he never recovered. Forrest would go on to clearly dominate the fight by bullying the smaller Mosley and landing his punches at a very high percentage.
At the end of the day, Forrest was the unanimous decision winner and on top of the boxing world. A rematch with Mosley was set for July 2002, and once again Forrest won a clear decision over Mosley to erase any doubt on who was the better fighter between the two men.
All of the Mosley accolades may have gotten to his head because in January 2003, he was upset by a fighter he never saw coming, the WBA welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga.
Forrest was celebrating all of the post-fight hype surrounding his wins over Mosley, which may or may not have played a role in his overlooking of Mayorga. The fight got off to a fast start as Mayorga began to throw bombs from the first minute. In the closing moments of the first round, Mayorga sent Forrest to the floor from a shot to the shoulder. At the start of the second, Forrest decided to play into Mayorga’s hands and battled with him at close range. Mayorga was inside the head of Forrest, mocking him and taking every punch Forrest was able to land.
The third round was the beginning of the end. Mayorga began to catch Forrest with punches that had him reeling around the ring. At the end, one punch sent Forrest fly into the ropes and a right hand sent Forrest crashing to the canvas. Forrest made it to his feet ready to fight, unfortunately his body did not comply with his mindset. He was barely able to stand up straight, stumbling in his stance, glassy eyed, and as a result the referee stopped the fight.
A rematch was held nearly six months later, this time fight went the distance, but the result was the same. Forrest was hesitant to engage Mayorga in any kind of battle, was appeared too worried of being hit and practically went reeling back from even the slightest punches landed by Mayorga.
Mayorga won the rematch by majority decision, and Forrest began a two year layoff marred with injuries, surgeries and postponements.
Forrest returned in 2005 to pile up two easy knockout victories, the last bout taking place last October.
This weekend, both them are going up against the best fighter either of them has faced in years. Both men are in their mid-thirties and need a win desperately. A loss at this stage of the game could devastate any chance to salvage either career.
How much does either fighter have left? Will Quartey target the often injured should of Forrest and if he does, will Forrest fall apart?
Two fighters who were great welterweight are now going head to head in a very open junior middleweight division. Both men expect a hard fight, something neither man has been involved in for several years.
It's hard to say who is the older fighter in the ring. Forrest has won more impressively since returning, but Quartey has face a slightly better level of opposition. The edge in size belongs to Forrest, but experience would go to Quartey. The skill level and power is about even. Although Quartey has been down in three separate fights, he was never stopped in his career - unlike Forrest.
The funny thing in all of this is regardless of Quartey and Forrest being inactive for several years, they are still more well known than any of the other top junior middleweights like Roman Karmazin, Cory Spinks and Kassim Ouma.
The fight will be televised in the main event slot of an HBO telecast, filmed live from the theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. A lot on the line this weekend. Someone has to dare to be great in order to win this fight.