Ghana have lost one of its boxing pioneers after the Ghana Boxing Federation confirmed the death of 1960 Olympic medallist Clement Ike Quartey, the senior brother of legendary boxer and former WBA welterweight champions Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey, in London.
Clement Quartey started his boxing career on a poor, slow note but later became well known in the world stage but not for long after winning Ghana’s first ever medal in the history of the Olympic Games.
The Olympic silver mediallist had been living outside Ghana, residing in the United Kingdom for most part of his life and has been confirmed dead on Saturday 2nd November, 2024 in UK’s capital at the age of 86, for an unknown cause and place at the moment.
Clement Quartey rose to career prominence at the 1960 Rome Olympics after winning silver medal in Light Welterweight for Ghana to become the first African to win a medal in any sporting event of the Olympic Games.
Italy dominated boxing at the 1960 Summer Olympics lifting a total seven medals of which three were golds, and two of the gold medallists Nino Benvenuti and Cassius Marcellus Clay who later known as Muhammad Ali for the USA, became Hall of Fame world professional boxing champions.
Clement Quartey, who was beaten by Czechoslovak’s Bohumil Němeček in the Light welterweight final, was only one step, in division, below Italian great Nino Benvenuti who beat Britain’s Jimmy Lloyd in the semifinals and Russian welterweight boxer Yuri Radonyak in the 1960 final.
Clement Quartey’s position and oppositions in boxing at the Olympics showed an intent for a true and fatal Ghanaian boxer but several factors improper management, lifestyle, indiscipline and family issues ruined Quartey’s anticipated top level in boxing.
It is understood that Clement Quartey is one of Benvenuti’s most feared and respected ever opponents in the Italian’s career despite the presence of the likes of America’s Muhammed Ali- regarded as the Greatest Of All-Time in boxing.
Two years later, Clement Quartey won gold medal in Light welterweight at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Wester Australia, after defeating Scotland’s Richard McTaggart. His title before the competition was one of the most expected in Ghana’s total nine medals at the end of the competition.
Clement Quarter is the senior brother of Ghanaian boxing legend and former WBA welterweight champions Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey. Ike Quartey, at Bukom native town in Accra, was born 6 six years after Clement Qaurtey’s Olympic silver medal triumph in Italy’s capital.
The signs of Ike Quartey for prospective world champion was early evident as some of these omens forced Ike Quartey to train at the gym where another Ghana boxing legend Azumah Nelson use to train.
In Quartey’s 26th fight he was given a shot at the WBA welterweight title, held by the then undefeated Crisanto España of Venezuela. Quartey knocked out Espana in the 11th round. At the time of the stoppage one judge had Quartey ahead, one had him behind and a third judge had the fight even.
He defended his title successfully seven times.
Among his foes were Alberto Cortes, Vince Phillips, and Oba Carr. In October 1997 he fought José Luis López to a draw. The decision was originally read as a win for Quartey but reversed when a flaw was found in the scoring. Although Quartey was down twice, most observers felt that he deserved the victory and his reputation suffered little damage.
Personal, business and health issues kept Quartey out of the ring until February 1999. His inactivity led him to be stripped of his WBA title.
Ike Quartey was defeated by America’s Oscar De La Hoya in February 1999 as one of the Ghanaian’s significant losses in career. Clement Quartey won seven of his total nine professional fights.
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Futball Surgery Sports condolence
Futball Surgery Sports is saddened to hear the death of former Ghanaian boxer and Olympic Games medallist Clement Quartey reported on 2nd November, 2024. We send our most heartfelt condolence message to Quartey’s family and loved ones. Sorry for the big loss his family, friends, Ghana boxing and Olympic Games boxing. We share with you in this saddest moment.