Another Ike Opponent Pulls Out

IN what is becoming a recurrent phenomenon, Ike ?Bazooka? Quartey has a new opponent, Verno Jeremias Philips, for his June 18 fight in Tennessee, USA.

The 35-year-old American, currently ranked number 7 in the world, has a relatively tight schedule. He will fight Teddy Reid (23-6-1) on May 24 in an IBF Light Middleweight eliminator for the number two spot. This will serve as a good preparation for the fight against Quartey.

With a record of 38-9-1 (20 KOs) it is obvious that Philips is an experienced boxer who could provide stiff opposition for the former WBA welterweight champion.

Notable among opponents who have soiled his otherwise clean sheet are IBF Light Middleweight champion, Kassim Ouma, who has defeated him twice. The first one was in September 2001, when Ouma won a unanimous decision after the fight travelled its full length. The second was Philip?s last bout in October 2004 with the IBF title at stake, but Ouma proved superior.

Philips who hails from Denver, Colorado, USA, has had his fair share of title glory. In 1993, he floored Rafael Williams (32-12-0) to win the New York State Light Middleweight title. That same year he captured the vacant WBO title when he defeated Lupe Aquino.

Philips defended this title against Jaime Llanes, Santos Cardona and Gianfranco Rosi. He defeated Rosi a second time in May 1997, but this time it was the WBU Light Middleweight title, and he successfully defended it against Godfrey Nyakana and Julian Jackson.

After a technical knockout (TKO) against Lloyd Joseph in March, 2003, he won the NBA title.

In his penultimate bout against stand-in opponent, Carlos Borquez, due to an injury sustained by Kassim Ouma, Philips won a sixth round TKO to annex the coveted IBF Light Middleweight title.

Meanwhile, in an interview with an Accra radio station, Quartey?s trainer, Oko Odamtten, said the change, though sudden, will not affect their fight strategy. ? Ike has watched his opponent?s clip once and he is fine?, he said.

According to him, Pavlik had to be withdrawn due to some misunderstanding with the promoters.