Ike needs special training to handle amateurs — Coach Asare

AIBA instructor and coach of the Black Bombers, Kwasi Ofori Asare, has entreated former world champion, Ike “Bazooka’ Quartey, to get special training if he yearns to coach at the amateur level.

He noted that Ike Quartey could only coach at the amateur level after acquiring the necessary training certified by the International Boxing Association or Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) at any AIBA workshop.

“He (Ike) is welcome to coach at amateur as a former boxer, but in amateur you need special training before you can coach,” Coach Asare told the Graphic Sports in an interview in Accra yesterday.

According to him the reason why the new technical director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) needs to acquire technical knowledge and capacity to coach at the amateur level is the unique style and techinque in amateur boxing.

“He needs to be trained to acquire the technical knowledge and style of amateur boxing. There are various levels of training for one to become an amateur trainer which has been certified by AIBA”, he noted.

Quartey, 48, fought 42 times and is famous for his controversial split decision loss to Mexican legend, Oscar de la Hoya. He ended his impressive career in 2006, after his loss to Ronald Wright.

Coach Asare wished Quartey well in his bid to venture into amateur boxing and expressed his willingness to support the former world champion.