Oscar De La Hoya, a pugilistic legend who faced some of the greatest fighters in his era, candidly admitted that no one hit him harder than Ike Quartey.
Despite sharing the ring with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, and experiencing a knockout from Bernard Hopkins, De La Hoya singled out Quartey as the most formidable puncher he encountered during his illustrious career.
“His punches were like bricks,” De La Hoya acknowledged in an interview with The Ring. “He hit me, and it would sting me. Every punch he would hit me with, it would rattle me.” The admission from ‘The Golden Boy’ highlights the impactful blows and lasting impression Quartey left on one of the era’s most accomplished fighters.
De La Hoya didn’t just praise Quartey’s power; he also lauded the Ghanaian boxer for possessing the best jab among all his opponents. “Not only was it powerful, it was very consistent,” De La Hoya remarked, acknowledging Quartey’s technical prowess in addition to his raw punching power.
Their encounter in 1999 was a thrilling back-and-forth battle that showcased the resilience of both fighters. Quartey sent De La Hoya to the canvas in the third round with thunderous left hooks, but ‘The Golden Boy’ rallied and reciprocated by knocking Quartey down in the sixth round. The drama continued with both fighters hitting the canvas, and in the final round, De La Hoya secured a second knockdown, nearly finishing Quartey. The judges awarded De La Hoya a split decision, allowing him to retain his WBC welterweight world title.
However, De La Hoya’s reign as champion was short-lived, as he succumbed to a defeat against Felix Trinidad later that same year. Subsequently, De La Hoya’s career unfolded with a mix of triumphs against fighters like Arturo Gatti, Fernando Vargas, and Ricardo Mayorga, but also setbacks against Mayweather, Hopkins, and Shane Mosley twice.
Reflecting on the culmination of his career in 2008, De La Hoya faced Manny Pacquiao, resulting in a stoppage in the eighth round. Despite the defeat, De La Hoya acknowledged Pacquiao as the best fighter he ever shared the ring with. Pacquiao’s achievements, including becoming an eight-division world champion in 2010, left an indelible mark on De La Hoya.
“I think his determination, his conditioning, his skill, his power, speed, footwork… he’s one of the fighters I most appreciated,” De La Hoya declared, paying tribute to Pacquiao’s multifaceted excellence. As De La Hoya’s career came to an end, it was marked not only by memorable battles but also by the profound impact of fighters like Ike Quartey and Manny Pacquiao, who shaped his journey in the ring.
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