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Andy Lee would like to see Quigley vs Spike or Hogan in March -middleweight is closer to big time than people think

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Andy Lee believes Jason Quigley [16(12)-1(0)] is one or two step up wins away from being a serious contender again – and suggested a fight with either Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan [30(21)0 3(2)] or Dennis Hogan [28(7)-2(0)-1]would be ideal big match ups.

Quigley returns to the ring this Thursday night as he looks to put his first career defeat, a reverse suffered at the gloves of Bermudian Tureano Johnson in July, behind him.

The Donegal native takes on Abraham Cordero [13(7)-4(1)-2] on the same Golden Boy promoted, LA Hanger hosted fight card as Monaghan’s Aaron McKenna.

The fight will be the World Championship silver medal winners first under the guidance of former middleweight champion of the world Andy Lee – and his new coach has been impressed with the likable fighter throughout camp.

Indeed, Lee has seen enough to suggest the sense of devastation surrounding the former Manny Robles and Dominic Ingle trained fighter’s Summer defeat was exaggerated.

The Limerick fighter believes Quigley is only two wins away from a big fight and not to far off a shot of a world title.

Even more interestingly when speaking on Off The Ball’s Off The Brawl he muted the idea of a potential March dust up between one of Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan and Jason Quigley.

“Jason is only three fights away from having a huge fight, not even that. My plan would be for him to beat Cordero [this Thursday] and in March have a bigger fight, a step up with a name.

“I don’t want to put peoples names out there, but look at the fights that could be out there for Jason. I know Spike O’Sullivan is slotted to fight Jaime Munguia, but Jason and Spike O’Sullivan would sell out any arena in the East Coast of America, Jason and Dennis Hogan [the same].

“There are so many fights for Jason and it’s just about him getting back on the horse now and maybe one more with a slightly more step up and then go for it.

“He is only two fights away from a real test and then if he wins that then he will be knocking on the door. “

Quigley versus Kildare’s Hogan or Cork’s Spike would be a draw either side of the Atlantic, but both might have other plans come March.

Spike believes if he beats Jaime Munguia on January 11 he will secure a middleweight world title fight, while Hogan is confident of winning the WBC strap this coming Saturday. Victory would mostly likely see him tied into a Jermall Charlo rematch, although if the American didn’t want it and Quigley was ranked he would be an ideal opponent for the proposed homecoming.

dpg

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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