On this day 14 January 2005 (Exactly 14 years ago)
Former World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight Champion Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey made a great comeback after nearly four years lay-off, recording an eighth round knockout over American Clint Scott McNeil in their 10-round Middleweight fight at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex. Quartey, who fought cautiously with intermittent explosive hooks and body shots, became the first boxer to knockout the stocky American.
The well-trimmed, clean-shaven 35 year-old Quartey dominated the bout from the early round, sending straight jabs to the forehead of McNeil with occasional hooks to his mid-sessions, forcing the American to back-pedal.
But getting to the final seconds of the first round, the 26 year-old McNeil stepped up his gear with desperate punches on the former world champion.
McNeil pummelled Quartey aggressively in the opening seconds of the second round but it was brief as the Ghanaian maintained his composure with his trademark left jabs, dazing his opponent in the third round. However, the “Bazooka” could not deliver the kill before the bell sounded.
By the fourth round, the American had started bleeding through the nostrils with swollen eyes, but he was unperturbed as he matched Quartey toe-to-toe.
A combination of left-right hooks to McNeil’s ribs forced him to kneel on the canvas in the seven round but the stubborn boxer, who wanted to keep a clean sheet as never been knockout before, indicated to referee Bob Sackey that he was in shape and was saved by the bell before Quartey could expunge him.
McNeil again visited the canvas from a right fury punch on his head but he managed to get back into contention. He was however not third time lucky as a combination of left-right to his ribs sent him sprawling on the canvas, barely two
minutes into the eighth round and had to be revived by a team of doctors.
“Quartey’s jabs are unbelievable. I believe he’d become a world champion again,” said McNeil after the fight. But he added: “No matter what happens, I will still praise my lord and saviour,” stating that he would also become a world champion one day.
On this day 14 January 2005 (Exactly 14 years ago) Former president John Agyekum Kufuor called on the Management and Playing body of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club to endeavour to become the pace setters for the development of football in Ghana.
He said that, “with the achievements made by the Club in recent years, it has a duty to improve football in Ghana”. President Kufuor made the call when the Management and the Playing body presented the CAF Confederation Cup they won 9 January 2005 to him at the Castle, Osu.
Hearts Captain, Amankwah Mireku and Deputy Captain, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour supported by Mr Ato Ahwoi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr Tommy Okine, Executive Chairman of the Club presented to Cup to President Kufuor.
Hearts won the maiden CAF Confederation Cup after a marathon penalty shoot out in the final leg match against archrivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
At the end of the two-leg matches played in Accra and Kumasi , both matches recorded 1-1 drawn result
Kuffour supported by Mr Ato Ahwoi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr Tommy Okine, Executive Chairman of the Club presented to Cup to President Kufuor.
He said, ” I am proud and happy to receive a second trophy from Hearts. In 2001 you presented the Super Cup to me. This shows that perhaps there is some hidden relationships between the Club and President Kufuor, who is proving to be the lucky President to Hearts.”
“I am highly elated that the first CAF Confederation Cup is coming to Ghana and it is significant that it is coming through the Premier Club”, he added.
President Kufuor said Ghana has had a distinguished history in football on the African Continent but regretted that she did not now feature prominently to win more laurels for the country.
“We are now recapturing this sunken image in football with Hearts winning the maiden CAF Confederation Cup. I am happy for Hearts to rekindle the spirit”.
He said with the two top Clubs in Ghana, Hearts and Kumasi Asante Kotoko competing for the maiden Cup in the finals, it is an indication that Ghana was still not lost in the game of football in Africa.
On this day 14 January 1935 (Exactly 84 years ago) Home favourite Jack Crawford won his 4th Australian Open Men’s singles title; beats Fred Perry of England 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
On this day 14 January 1979 (Exactly 40 years ago) John McEnroe won his first of 3 season-ending ATP Masters Grand Prix tennis titles 6–7, 6–3, 7–5 against fellow American Arthur Ashe at Madison Square Garden, NYC
On this day 14 January 1985 (Exactly 34 years ago) Martina Navratilova became the third player in tennis history to win 100 tournaments (behind Jimmy Connors & Chris Evert).
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
