Ike Quartey  vs. Vernon Forrest

"Now or Never"...We'll See

By Ysrael "TKO909" Rangel

August 5, 2006

Madison Square Garden

New York, New York

TheFightGame.tv would like to welcome Ysrael Rangel to our team - Ysreal comes on board as our boxing

analyst.

This Saturday night, Ike "Bazooka" Quartey (37-2-1, 31 KO’s) returns to Madison Square Garden for the

first time after his five-year layoff - a layoff which started after his loss to now expired (story for another time)

Fernando Vargas back in 2000. He returns to The Garden against Vernon "The Viper" Forrest  

(37-2-1, 28 KO’s), who also had a slight layoff (two years). The two will be slugging it out in a fight that has

been called "Now or Never."

To be honest, I'm not really too sure how much "Now" either fighter really has left in him. It’s always

interesting the titles given to fights when you break down the fighters and the situations that fighter may be

in.

For example, this is "Now or Never" - I would like to make the case that they both once had an "Almost

Now" - Forrest with his back-to-back wins over "Sugar" Shane Mosley, the then king of the ring-superstar,

and Quartey, who was the tough, fast, and...well, was he really a "Now" or was he more a soon-to-be before

his losses to Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas? 

Was Forrest really a "Now," or was he just a tough guy who had Sugars’ number and a slight edge on the

mental game? These are questions we can only debate and \ or ponder as fight fans. One thing for sure is

we will find out this weekend. 

So, as sad as it may seem, I really don't believe these guys will ever really be a "Now." That time has come

and gone. Who can these guys fight, (who ever wins) that carries the credibility of a De La Hoya, Vargas,

Felix Trinidad, etc... that will propel them into the "Now" bracket.

Don't get me wrong, these guys can fight. I think it will be a damn good fight - but one beating the other

is not going to be the "Now" fight they need. I believe there are a lot of good fights out there, tough fights

that can be made for both fighters, fights they can win. But again, are they fights that will be worthy of the

"Now" stage? Maybe, but I think not.

As far as the fight is concerned, let's talk fight now that I rambled about the name of the fight and whether or

not it would be as such - Quartey has had the better fights since his come back - he got back in the saddle

against Clint McNeil (16-8-0), Verno Philips (39-10-1) and Carlos Bajorquez (26-8-6). Forrest, on the

other hand, stopped Sergio Rios (18-5-0) and then Elco Garcia (18-5-0). As stated earlier and bears

mentioning again, Quartey was off for five years, while Forrest was only off two.

Keep in mind that Forrest’s two-year layoff though, was plagued by injury and four surgeries, including rotor

cuff and elbow surgery. He was fighting through lots of pain in his last fight and still talks about fighting

through pain because he has to. In reading interviews, Forrest seems irritated at the attention given to his

injuries - the mention of them seems to get his cup in a bundle. Quartey, on the other hand, had a layoff of

building businesses and less stress plus relaxation. Two layoffs that will definitely produce different results. 

When all is said and done, I'll have to give the edge to the "Bazooka,’’ who looks very sharp in training. His

jab is strong, he is mentally prepared, and has no other serious distraction. "The Viper," on the other hand,

will be hoping that his body will hold up, that his shoulder won’t give out, and the pain won’t beat him over

the jab of his worthy opponent.

We all know as fighters and fight fans that the mental game is a big part of the fight plan, and I'm afraid

Quartey has the upper hand there. I give the power to Forrest because he is accurate with his guns. But will

it be enough?

All in all... watch the fight...what the hell do I know...I'm just a fight fanatic. I wish both these guys the best

of luck and I hope they can get the "Now"...I think it's more about not being a "Never Really Was"...which

no fighter wants to be remembered for. 

Ysrael "TKO909" Rangel

Please send comments or Questions to yrangel@thefightgame.tv

Fight subject to change

(8/4/06)