Ike Quartey: I’m no wife-beater

Former World Welterweight Champion, Ike Bazooka Quartey has denied beating up his wife last Friday.

The Daily Guide newspaper reported on Tuesday that Ike beat up his wife of seventeen years, Barbara, at their New Gbawe residence in Accra.

The story said that the woman was rushed to a clinic in Mataheko, a suburb of Accra for treatment with a broken toe and bruises on her face resulting from the beating.

But speaking to Joy FM Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Tuesday, both Ike Quartey and Barbara Quartey claimed the story was completely false.

While the couple admitted Barbara went to see the family doctor, they said it was for a routine check-up.

Barbara admitted she had an argument with the husband but came nowhere near receiving blows, and said even though Ike Quartey stepped on her toe, it was purely accidental.

Ike Quartey, on his part, said he learnt of his wife's visit to the doctor from their son who told him his mother had had a bruised toe.

But publishers of the story defended the publication, arguing that residents in the area have often complained about Ike regularly beating the wife.

The author claimed that before he went to press, he had reached Ike Quartey on the phone for his version of what had transpired, but the former World Champion pleaded with him not to publish the incident because it would dent his reputation.

But Ike, recipient of a national honours award only a fortnight ago, denied pleading a blackout of the story and said he only denied the accusation.