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Former middleweight world champ Andy Lee to coach contender Jason Quigley?

Jason Quigley [16(12)-1(1)] has sparked rumours he is set to strike up a boxer coach relationship with Andy Lee.

The talented Donegal middleweight posted a video of himself and the former WBO middleweight champion of the world working together on the pads last night – and the tweet set the rumour mill in motion.

Irish boxing fans are now surmising the pair will work together moving forward. There is nothing confirmed officially as of yet and the boxing grapevine isn’t churning out anything worth sipping on with regard to speculation. However, there are many who can see logic in the move and even more that are excited about it potentially happening.

Quigley has been looking to make changes post his first career reverse to Tureano Johnson in July. 

The 28-year-old World Championships silver medal winner came up second best against what was billed as gate keeping opposition.

Speaking in a wide ranging interview with Irish-boxing.com earlier this month the popular figure hinted that Johnson inspired change was in the pipeline.

The Ulsterman has been part of the Wincobank Gym in Sheffield for his past three fights having relocated closer to home from Manny Robles’s Rock Gym in L.A.

However, from the outside, things don’t seem to have clicked with new trainer Dom Ingle and, while Quigley himself has not called an end to the working relationship, the analytical 160lber said he was willing to make wholesale changes if needed.

“I’m really sitting down and questioning things – putting questions to myself more than anything else – and understanding that the performances just weren’t coming out, and why they weren’t coming out.”

“I’m looking that everything, questioning everything, and looking at what I can improve.”

“You have one shot at this sport, one shot at life, and you have to make decisions. Maybe in the next two or three weeks I will make some big decisions, maybe I won’t, I don’t know yet, but whatever is right I will do.”

“It’s just a matter now of putting a few wee things in place, getting that wee spark back.”

Lee knows exactly where Quigley is at in terms of suffering defeat in a big break through bout in your 15th fight – and the pair have discussed the situation privately.

Lee, who worked under legendary coach Manny Steward before teaming up with Adam Booth, has also become a  coach of late and is working with slick Limerick prospect Paddy Donovan.

Quigley has done some sessions with Lee alongside alongside the young talent, but still it remains to be seen if the link up will become official.

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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