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Scott Quigg – “Even though he got beat, I still want to settle the score”

Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] may have lost his WBA featherweight title at the weekend, but Scott Quigg would still love to take on ‘The Jackal’ in a rematch.

Frampton was defeated in a rematch against Leo Santa Cruz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and, while a third fight seems likely, Quigg is open to fighting either.

The Bury boxer lost to Frampton in an IBF-WBA super bantamweight eliminator last February, having his jaw broken in the process and spending a prolonged period out of the ring afterwards.

The Matchroom fighter would finally return to the ring in December, move up to featherweight, and knock out Jose Cayetano to win the WBA International trinket and enter their rankings at #8.

Quigg hopes to improve this ranking and move into title contention on the Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko undercard at Wembley Stadium in April.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Toe2Toe podcast, Quigg described how “I’m looking to be out on the 29th of April,” he said. “I’ve been speaking with Eddie [Hearn]. We’re trying to make a big fight, maybe an eliminator for the WBA featherweight title.”

This would, obviously, strengthen his claim for a fight with the new champion – however the Englishman is still desperate for a rematch with Frampton.

“I would love to fight Santa Cruz,” he said. “But again, I always want that rematch. Even though he [Frampton] got beat, I still want to settle the score.”

“It’s like if someone’s mum was walking down the street and got her purse nicked and they ran off. Would you want to keep trying to find them and get it back? It’s no different. If someone’s beat you, why would you not want to avenge that loss?”

“I’ve watched the fight back many times now. Yes, he won the fight, simple as that. We got it wrong on the night and started too slow. But why would you accept that and not want to go and put the record straight?”

Quigg was an interested observer on Saturday night and admitting to being taken aback by the performance of the Belfast man. He recalled how “I was very, very surprised that Frampton didn’t try to adapt or do something different, especially after five or six rounds. It was just the same pattern of the fight.”

“I scored it 116-112, I thought eight rounds to four to Santa Cruz. I thought he was in control from the start.”

Eric Donovan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 2 of the Irish Boxing Show:

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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