The last time Ghanian sensation Ike Quartey fought a high profile match in the U.S. on HBO, he lost a controversial decision to Golden Boy and American hero Oscar De La Hoya in 1999. Last night in New York's Madison Square Garden, the site of the De La Hoya fight, Quartey lost an even more sketchy decision to comebacking Vernon Forrest.

The judges showed "Bazooka" Quartey no mercy in their unanimous decision, even after Forrest had a point deducted in the 9th round for a low blow. The announcment was met by chants of "Bullshit! Bullshit!" by the American fans upon hearing the decision. An understandably disappointed Quartey sounded like a tape recording from his 1999 interview with HBO analyst Larry Merchant after the De La Hoya loss, telling Merchant, "You were here, you saw the fight."

The fight started out with both fighters being aggressive, as Forrest looked for an early knockout. Quartey showed he had a superior jab to Forrest's - at least this version of Forrest's jab which, after multiple surgeries on his left shoulder, will likley never be the same - and weaved under Forrest's right hands to score successfully to the body. Forrest, with his rangy frame, boxed for the second half of the fight, landing a few good uppercuts, but it was Quartey who came forward with powerpunches. The fight was even after the first four rounds, but Quartey seemed to build up an insurmountable lead, especially after Forrest's point deduction.

Quartey, 37-2-1 (31), needed this victory in order to line up another big-name fight with a big name opponent - possibly De La Hoya - even though the Golden Boy has stated his desire to fight Floyd Mayweather only. The 36-year-old will probably go back to his native country the same way he left in 2000 after his loss to Fernando Vargas - frustrated and disillusioned. As for Forrest, 37-2 (28), he will probably get a fight with a top ten junior middlweight opponent, but his win was not strong enough to merit a superfight. What's more than that, the 35-year-old did not look like the version that destroyed Shane Mosley and then outboxed him in the rematch.

The fight was dubbed, "Now Or Never." Ironically, The "never" might end up applying to both fighters.