New Column/Quartey vs. Forrest on HBO

Hey Guys, I'm excited to announce the expansion of the Proven System brand (imperious, Napoleonic entity that it is, certain to roll into the Russian wilderness come wintertime next year) to the pages of the L Magazine website beginning next week. There is a brief preview of what to expect on line there now (www.thelmagazine.com) although I guess you guys already know what to expect, having read all of my jokes countless times by now.

In addition, here are some remarks on Saturday night's sterling matchup on HBO between Ike Quartey and Vernon Forrest, two of my favorites:

Saturday 8/5
Madison Square Garden
Ike Quartey (37-2-1, 31 KOs) vs. Vernon Forrest (37-2, 28 KOs)
Television: HBO 10 P.M.

The story lines are bountiful in this intriguing, matchup of stalwart junior middleweight veterans at the Garden. Although Forrest and Quartey have long flown under the radar with respect to the mainstream sporting public, both are well known and respected commodities amongst boxing congniscenti who have witness the two of them engage in some of the most entertaining and significant welterweight confrontations of the past several years.

Former WBA welterweight king Ike 'Bazooka' Quartey remains a virtual unknown in this country, a stark contrast to his native Ghana, where as the youngest of 27 children he ascended to heroic status by winning the title in 1994 and successfully defending it seven times. He remains a veritable dignitary in his home country and is the finest Ghanian to emerge since the legendary featherweight and junior featherweight champ of the 80's and early 90's Azumah Nelson. Possessing a punishing jab and entertaining, aggressive style Quartey's popularity at home is well deserved, his lack of notoriety elsewhere a decided shame.

Quartey is probably best known in the first world for his splendid 1999 battle with a prime Oscar De La Hoya, a disputed, razor thin decision loss in which both competitors exchanged knockdowns and many thought that it was the Ghanian who deserved the decision over the then prime Golden Boy. He followed up this disappointment with a career worst performance in a decision loss to Fernando Vargas and then hung up the gloves for five years, generating the assumption of his having retired for good. But Quartey surprised observers last year, returning with a headlong back into the division elite in 2005 with convincing wins over contenders Verno Phillips and Carols Bojorquez. Will the Bazooka's late career flourish see him finally realize the popularity and earning potential he has long deserved and? That matter will largely be decided on Saturday.

Forrest has, throughout the course of his twelve year career been an enigma of a different sort. Once a decorated amateur, the gifted, smooth boxing tactician gained an only partially deserved reputation early in his career for dispassionate reserve in the ring. Though by no means short on power (as evidenced by 28 knockouts in 37 wins) the soft spoken "Viper” was nevertheless frequently criticized for his failure to prosecute fights in a crowd pleasing fashion and accused of performing down to the level of his competition. All such perceptions were dramatically altered in 2002 when he stunned the then consensus pound for pound best fighter in the world Shane Mosley, drubbing "Sugar" Shane en route to a one sided decision, lifting his WBC 147 pound title in process. When Forrest repeated the feat several months later in nearly as easy a fashion, he was awarded Ring Magazine's “Fighter Of The Year” honors and appeared headed for a long run in amongst the sport's most highly compensated and celebrated elite.

However another unexpected shift in fortune lay in wait. The new champions's stay at the top of the mountain came to an abrupt end in his second defense, when hot headed Nicaraguan lunatic Ricardo Mayorga destroyed Forrest via third round knock, a shocking and brutal defeat that left ling time observers scratching their heads. Forrest then lost a close call in the return, and has since battled back with a couple of routine wins over lightly regarded journey men, thus setting the stage for Saturday night's crossroads encounter.

The stakes could scarcely be higher for these two noble combatants. The winner rapidly elevates himself into the high dollar sweepstakes which is comprised of boxing's best known box office draws: De La Hoya, Mosley, "Winky" Wright and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The loser is likely looking at a protracted downward trajectory. The match up feels like a veritable coin flip with age and other variables potentially coming into play in unknown fashion. I'd hate to have to bet on this fight, but if pressed I guess I would choose an aggressive Quartey by decision.