Former world boxing champion, Ike Quartey, turns 50 today and Citi Sports is paying tribute to him by reliving the night on which he became the king of the WBA welterweight division of the world.
He defeated Venezuelan boxer, Crisanto España, at the Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret in France in 1994 to clinch the title.
Quartey had boxed well throughout the bout and matched España until the 11th round when he started to show his power and durability.
He set España up against the ropes and landed a flurry left and right hands to send the champion down to the canvas. España survived the count but his decision to continue proved foolish as Quarter returned to punish him further with more right and left hands and eventually sent the Venezuelan down and out.
The referee stopped the bout and Quarty was the new world champion.
Below is the video of Ike Quartey’s bout with Crisanto España:
Quartey went on to defend his title 7 more times but he failed to unify his belt and that of the WBC in 1999 when he lost to Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas.
In total Quartey’s professional record stood at 37 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw.