Quartey Prepped For Ring Return!

By Scott Shaffer

13/01/2005

Quartey Prepped For Ring Return!

In Accra, Ghana today, both of the boxers in the main event successfully weighed in at the middleweight limit.  After nearly five years of inactivity, former welterweight champion Ike Quartey scaled 160 pounds even, as did his opponent Clint McNeil.  Mike Marchionte, who is in Accra representing DiBella Entertainment, told Boxingtalk that Quartey's comeback has generated a great deal of attention.  "It was a surreal scene. They weighed in on the rooftop of Ike's hotel, the Mascot Hotel, which has a statue of Ike carrying a globe right in front.  The rooftop overlooks the whole city and it was packed with people.  Afterwards, people were banging drums and dancing in the street."  According to Marchionte, Quartey appears to be in good physical shape but may be distracted by serving as the event's promoter.  "Ike's very relaxed but a little preoccupied with the promotion. He was surprised by the turnout for the weigh-in."  As for McNeil, Marchionte hasn't seen any signs of intimidation yet. "So far, he's holding his own with respect to the promotion. I don't know if he believes it or not, but he is telling people he is going to win."  According to the bout sheet, there will be a strong undercard featuring 2000 Olympian Charles Adamu, 12-2, against Michael Gbenga of Nigeria at super middleweight, Philip Kotey against Jamiru Tyson at welterweight and undefeated regional titlist Osumanu Adama against Solo Issa in a Commonwealth eliminator at 154 or 160. The show will take place in an outdoor stadium named after another great boxer from Ghana, the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex.  Ringside seats are selling for 150,000 cedis, or about $18.