By Blackbull
(InsideBoxing) On Saturday, February 13, 1999 boxing fans witnessed an intriguing and interesting fight between WBC Champion, Oscar De LaHoya and challenger Ike Quartey. A Chess match where each fighter not willing to become the aggressor, instead content to work the jab and wait for an opportunity to land a devastating punch. The respect factor was high in both fighters minds. Each knowing a simple mistake could spell disaster, both knew each other was capable and had the power to end the fight with one punch.
The first few rounds were a contest of jabs with De LaHoya mustering a few combinations and body shots. It wasn't until the sixth round when De LaHoya found a solid left hook to the face of Quartey would floor the challenger. This led the champion to become aggressive and try to finish the fight however, within a minute, De LaHoya makes the mistake of throwing a lead uppercut. The one punch which should never, ever be used as a lead punch and if your trainer ever tells to, fire him! As De LaHoya leads with his uppercut he gets tagged and finds himself on himself on the canvass. De LaHoya finishes the round he should have won by a 10-8 margin and what should have been the turning point in the fight to his favor. Rounds 7,8 and 9 are pretty much controlled by Quartey but with the respect factor and tasting the power of De LaHoya, Quartey failed to step up and end the fight only giving De LaHoya the time to regain his senses. De LaHoya starts to fight like a champion and regains form and timing. Entering the 12th round, De LaHoya elected to listen to Clancy Instead of Alcazar, both trainers gave De LaHoya advise in the corner. Alcazar instructions were to stay out of trouble, you have the fight won, Clancy on the other hand told De LaHoya he needed to win the 12th round to win the bout. De LaHoya displayed the true heart of a champion, knocking Quartey down and pulverizing Quartey with an awesome display of combinations and punches winning the 12th round big and the contest as well.
HBO will re broadcast the fight Saturday night.