Quartey to fight De La Hoya?

The camp of Ike ?Bazooka? Quartey is looking forward to the prospect of a showdown once again between the Ghanaian and American Oscar De La Hoya sometime late this year.

The ?Bazooka? who has a date with American Vernon Forrest in July this year, has pencilled down De la Hoya as the first boxer on his hit list since he made his comeback into the ring after a five-year lay off.

De la Hoya, after a one and a half year lay off, produced one of his greatest performances to crush Ricardo Mayorga in the sixth round to clinch the WBC Light Middleweight crown on Saturday. Mayorga had insulted De la Hoya in the build-up and paid the price as his opponent launched into him with awesome power from the opening seconds.
Though De la Hoya failed to name his next opponent, analysts are predicting a possible berth with Floyd Mayweather Jnr. in late September. Trainer of Ike Quartey, Oko Odamtten told CitiFM that the boxer is thrilled with the prospect of facing the ?Golden Boy? late this year.
?Ike was excited De la Hoya won because it gives him a possibility of fighting the boxer he lost controversially to in 1999. ?We are confident he will overcome Forrest in July which will make it possible for him to face ?Oscar?, he said.
Quartey was defeated by De La Hoya in 1999, in a controversial fashion but Oko Odamtten maintains that the ?Bazooka? is more than ready to avenge that defeat. ?He is the first on Ike?s hit list and I believe the money will convince De la Hoya to fight?, he added.