Ike Quartey Dodges World Title!

Upon hearing about the postponement of Vernon Forrest vs. Ike Quartey due to an injury suffered by Forrest, IBF junior middleweight champion, Roman Karmazin, immediately offered his name as a fill in to fight Quartey.

Karmazin signed a contract to fight Quartey last week, but received the news from his promoter, Don King, that Quartey and his promoter, Lou DiBella, declined the offer and would rather wait on Forrest to recover from his injury and fight him.


Karmazin was furious upon hearing this. "I just don't understand it. Why would Quartey and his people turn down and opportunity to fight for a world title?

I'm here to prove that I'm the best 154 boxer in the world but I can't do it if the other fighters won't fight me."


Meanwhile, the clash between Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins has been officially completed between Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions, agreeing to final details over the weekend. The bout, being billed as "Fight To The Finish"-which will take place at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View-will be formally announced March 21st in New York City, followed by a three-city press tour that includes Philadelphia, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Los Angeles. -Fightnews