Former WBA welterweight champion, Ike (Bazooka) Quartey was yesterday awarded the Grand Medal by the Government of Ghana for his immense contribution to sports in the country.

He was among 76 awardees who distinguished themselves through innovation, creativity, excellence, and hard work.

The 2007 National Awards dubbed, “Championing African Excellence”, marks the 2nd Constitutionalised award done on the eve of Ghana’s Republic Day but rescheduled for yesterday, July 6, 2007.

A recitation indicated that the awardees had distinguished themselves over the years in all aspects of national endeavours in the areas of academic, education, statesmanship, science, arts, sports, health and Medicine.

Quartey entered boxing in 1988 and won the WBA Welterweight title six years later (1994) against Cristano Espana of Venezuela, with a KO in 11 rounds.

He defended his title successfully seven times. Among his foes were Alberto Cortes, Vince Phillips and Oba Carr, who had managed to knock down Quartey's co-champion, Felix Trinidad.

In October of 1997, he fought Jose Luis Lopez to a draw. The decision was originally read as a win for Quartey but reversed when a flaw was found in the scoring.

Although Quartey was down twice, most observers felt that he deserved the victory and his reputation suffered little damage.

Personal, business and health issues kept Quartey out of the ring until February of 1999.

His inactivity led him to be stripped of his WBA belt, but he challenged WBC champion Oscar De La Hoya at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas, Nevada. De La Hoya came away with a controversial split decision.

Quartey remained inactive for the next year, eventually jumping up to the junior middleweight division to challenge then undefeated Fernando Vargas for his IBF title.

He lost a unanimous decision and left the ring for the next five years.

Ike Quartey returned to the ring in January of 2005. He won the first three bouts of his comeback but on August 5, 2006, he lost a close and extremely controversial unanimous decision to former Welterweight champion Vernon Forrest at the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York.

His next opponent was Ronald "Winky" Wright on December 2, 2006 in Tampa, Florida.

Fighting on Wright's home turf, Quartey put on a courageous display against Wright, battling back against the American to win some of the later rounds, albeit losing a unanimous decision.

Quartey was known mainly for his "Bazooka" like jab. His jab was considered by most experts to be the best in all of boxing while he was in his prime.

He primarily relied on "peek-a-boo" or "clam-shell" defense, which consisted of him allowing punches to land on his arms, elbows and gloves which he kept held tightly to his cheeks and ribcage.

Recently the boxer was said to be interested in running for President, with Nii Odartey Lamptey, a Ghanaian footballer, as his running mate.

He has built a modern hospital at New Gbawe in the Greater Accra region. :