Ike Quartey: I Lost A Brother Who Made Me Great

Former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey, has eulogized the late Alfred Kotey as a brother who he shared everything with during his boxing career.

Quartey in an emotional conversation with the Graphic Sports, said Kotey will continue to be a brother even in death. He explained that the last two days had been a difficult one for him since hearing the demise of his close ally.

Kotey was reported dead at a hospital in New York last Tuesday where he had been on life support having lost his memory and remained speechless for some time.

During their career days, Quartey and Kotey formed a deadly partnership known as ‘Whiz kids’ where they both represented Ghana at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seol, South Korea as well as the African Games.

Pouring his heartfelt tribute to a bossom friend, Quartey revealed that his late colleague motivated him into becoming one of the best fighters to have emerged from Ghana.

“It’s been very difficult for me these past few days since his passing. Everyone in boxing knows my relationship with Alfred Kotey. He was a brother and my boxing partner.

“He was the one who motivated me into becoming one of the best fighters to have come from Ghana. I will forever miss him and even in death, he remains my brother,” he said.

The duo’s relationship dates back from their amateur days right into their professional careers. They were both under the same manager and promoter Yoofi Boham who eventually guided the later ex-boxer into becoming a world champion in 1994.

Quartey however recounted their professional debuts on the same card in 1988 just after the Olympics. He explained that they were so unique that they become world champions in the same year.