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“I wouldn’t blame them” – Jason Quigley taking criticism on the chin

Jason Quigley is well aware that he has been written off and that will make it all the sweeter when he eventually fulfils his potential.

The Donegal middleweight lost for the first time in his pro career during the summer, being upset by grizzled Bahamian Tureano Johnson.

Retiring on his stool after nine rounds at the Fantasy Springs Casino in L.A., Quigley saw his duck-egg smashed but the Golden Boy fighter’s attitude afterwards impressed.

READ: Mature Jason Quigley feeling good following first pro loss

Plenty will be made of Quigley’s mantra and, indeed, plenty was said in the aftermath of the upset defeat. 

Indeed, even before the defeat, certain commentators were already questioning Quigley’s credentials – citing, perhaps unfairly, his injury-impacted win over Glen Tapia alongside his laboured performance versus Freddy Hernandez.

However, the Finn Valley fighter has thicker skin than most in the modern game.

“They’re doing their job,” he says of what has been written since his loss in Indio.

“They’re only writing what they can see and sometimes I wouldn’t blame them for what they did see.”

“I know I haven’t performed to the capability that I can perform to. Going by the last performance, I can’t turn around and say ‘what are they talking shit about?’ I got beat, I didn’t perform well, and I got beat by someone that deserved to beat me, it happened – and they’re doing their job writing about it.”

While not particularly ‘fuelled by haterz’, Quigley is looking forward to changing opinions and proving critics wrong.

The 28-year-old is currently training with Andy Lee in Dublin alongside Paddy Donovan – having ended his association with Dom Ingle – and is set to return to the ring in December.

Looking ahead, Quigley outlined how “it’s up to me now to make them turn around and go ‘oh, fair play to Quigley, he’s after coming back from that loss, I didn’t expect him to come back, I didn’t think he’d make it’.”

“It will just make the success story even better.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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