QUIGLEY READY FOR TAPIA
Irish star Jason faces his toughest test to date, writes George Gigney
UNBEATEN middleweight prospect
Jason Quigley makes a step up in class tonight (March 23) when he meets
Glen Tapia over 10 rounds at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
The Irish 25-year-old is based in California where he trains at Manny Robles’ talent-packed gym.
He was unable to get to New York for gymmate Michael Conlan’s big professional debut last weekend as it came too soon before his clash with Tapia.
“This fight’s massive for me, it’s another big step up for me. It’s a live opponent and it’s the main event that’ll go out on ESPN, so there’s going to be a big audience and it’s a chance to show people who I am, what I am and what I’m here to do,” he told Boxing News.
“I don’t really fixate much on the fighters I’m fighting. I have a quick look and let my team develop a game plan and I’ll work with them. I concentrate on bringing the best Jason Quigley I can to the ring on fight night. My plan is to perform to the best I can. Once I get in there and perform the best I can I know it’s going to be a hard night for anybody who steps in the ring with me.”
Alongside Conlan and Quigley, Robles also trains the likes of world champions Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno.
It’s becoming one of the best gyms in America and attracts plenty of talented fighters for Quigley to spar.
“It’s a great gym, a great stable. For us all, it’s great because we know what it takes to become a world champion. Iron sharpens iron. Everybody’s doing well and we’re all feeding off each other.
“Liam Smith was over for a few weeks, I got some great work in with him. I got some work with Alfredo Angulo as well, a lot of great fighters. I’m well prepared.”
Quigley is also excited to be a part of a real purple patch for Irish boxing, and hopes to do his country proud.
He said: “Irish boxing is on the up, I think it’s the best it’s ever been. We’ve had some amazing fighters in the past, Steve Collins, Barry Mcguigan, Andy Lee,
Wayne Mccullough. Now we have some great fighters around all at the same time, it’s not just one fighter to follow. Paddy Barnes, Mick Conlan, Katie Taylor, Carl Frampton, Andy Lee’s still there as well. It’s unbelievable.”