Jason Quigley – “He wanted the knockout more than I did”

Jason Quigley [12(10)-0] wasn’t aiming for the early knockout ahead of his one-round demolition of Jorge Melendez last night in Inglewood, California.

However, the Puerto Rican came out swinging, and Quigley was more than willing to return the favour and take advantage.

The Donegal man sent his opponent to the canvas thrice before the Melendez camp threw in the towel to hand Quigley a head-turner of a win on the Bernard Hopkins v Joe Smith Jr undercard at The Forum.

The Irishman had gone the full ten in his last fight against James De La Rosa, and Melendez presented a similar level challenge. Quigley however noted that the Caribbean brawler came out too aggressively and he was able to bring about the finish early.

It was the fifth stoppage loss of the Melendez’s career, however it was the earliest he had ever been put away. By comparison, world title chasing Ukrainian Ievgen Khytrov took until the eighth round to stop the same opponent last year.

Quigley said afterwards that “he [Melendez] wanted the knockout more than I did – he was coming forward and risking heavy punches to his own detriment. Me and Manny Robles were ready to go all ten rounds if necessary.”

“We are 110 percent ready for anything that is coming in the future.”

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Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey look ahead to 2017 in episode 1 of The Irish Boxing Show