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World titles on the horizon for Canelo-targeting Jason Quigley


Jason Quigley [15(11)-0] knows his time will come and has not taken recent disappointments to heart.

Having seen a major fight fall through, Quigley is determined to secure big names and titles and is aiming for an eventual clash with the division’s #1, Canelo Alvarez.

The Donegal middleweight returned from a year out with injury last March and, after one win, looked set for a bout versus Japan’s Ryota Murata.

Quigley was going to put it all on the line in Vegas, jumping up in levels and across the promotional divide to take on the Olympic gold medallist on a big Top Rank card.

Arrangements were in place for Quigley to travel to Tokyo for the press conference to announce the clash, with first-class plane tickets booked and a tailored suit cut.

However, the fight would fall apart when it was insisted that Murata face Rob Brant, mandatory for the minor WBA ‘regular’ belt, instead, and the American would score a shocking upset win.

Quigley is not to downbeat about the whole thing and described how “things got a little complicated, it fell through, but that’s life, isn’t it?”

“We get thrown these hurdles in life. It’s the way that we react to them.”

“I was grateful of being mentioned so early in my career – It’s on the horizon, it’s just a matter of time.”

Quigley was speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his UK debut tomorrow in London where he faces Finland’s Mathias Eklund [10(4)-1(0)-2] over ten rounds.

“I’m very excited,” said the Ballybofey man. “I’ve had 15 fights now as a pro they’ve all been away from home and in America.
“I know England and the UK isn’t home, Ireland is my home, but this is the closest thing I’ve got so far. It’s a pleasure and I’m delighted to be over here on this side of the water and making my UK debut.”

“I want to hit the ground running now on Saturday night., a big start to 2019 keep it fun, keep it exciting, keep the ball going, and keep the big fights coming.”

Quigley almost got the chance to jump ahead and face a Top 10 fighter in Murata last year and, emboldened, he has his eyes on the #1.

WBA and WBC champion, and Golden Boy stablemate of Quigley, Canelo Alvarez seeks to unify against IBF champ Danny Jacobs in May before a likely third fight with Gennady Golovkin in September.

Quigley hopes the Mexican keeps winning as he envisions a future fight – and, with Canelo requiring a number of fights to fill out his lucrative DAZN contract, an all-redhead world title clash is not a far-fetched target at all.

“I think Jacobs can give him a lot of problems,” noted the Wincobank puncher who is ranked #5 with the WBC and #9 with the WBA.

“But, at the end of the day, Canelo is the best middleweight out there in all aspects and I think that he will come through it and I hope he does come through it because one day I would love to share the ring with him and take a few of them straps off him.”

“It’s exciting, just thinking about it is exciting.”

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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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