Amateur Star Joshua Quartey focused on Olympic Games Qualification before turning Pro
Joshua Abu Quartey who hopes to represent Ghana in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo had an exciting encounter with the sports media general, who is also the Communications Director of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
“I’m very happy and appreciative for this opportunity to chat with a legend. It has been my dream to represent my country of Ghana in the Olympics. But this is just the beginning. With help from Peter my new manager and Uncle Ike, I will accomplish my dream of becoming a world champion” expressed Quartey.
The 24 year old Black Bomber who represents Ghana in the 152-pounder in the amateurs, with a compiled record of 89-5, said he wants to maintain that weight division when he turns a professional.
He started boxing at the age of 10 training with older brothers at Bukom, before joining the Wisdom Boxing Club (WBC) under national trainer, Dr. Ofori Asare and won several local and regional tournaments before being invited to the Greater Accra Regional Team.
He has competed in the Ghana National Championships three times, winning two silver medals, and a gold medal in the 2018 event to earn a call up to the national boxing team.
After gaining the experience at the Africa and Commonwealth Games, his next target is the Olympic Games.
“I have learnt a lot in defeat and in victory so I know what sports is all about. I just want to accomplish my dream of representing Ghana at the world championship or Olympic Games.
He is inspired by his nephew, former WBA welterweight champion Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey (42-4, 31 KOs) and Ike Clement Quartey Snr. who won Africa’s first Olympic (silver) medal at the 1960 Olympic Games.
He believes it is a gift of the family that they are born champions,
He is self motivated and knows his dream will come true with a bit of hard work.
Quartey has already signed an exclusive managerial contract with renowned boxing manager and 2019 Boxing Writers Association Cus D’Amato Manager of the Year nominee Peter Kahn and Fight Game Advisors.
Quartey is Kahn’s second fighter from Ghana. The Miami Beach-based manager also represents 135-pound contender Emanuel Tagoe (31-1, 15 knockouts). The pair initially met in February 2019 following Tagoe’s unanimous decision victory against Vyacheslav Gusev at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
His goal in boxing is to be known as one of the world’s best boxers from Ghanaian Africa. The Quartey family will soon reign over the boxing world again.
By Sammy Heywood Okine / George Nipah