WEIGHT A MINUTE... I’M A PRO

Battered Quigg says broken foot and not a lack of professionalism was behind his failure to make the 9st limit

SCOTT QUIGG has rejected claims he is unprofessional because he failed to make the weight for his defeat by WBO featherweight king Oscar Valdez.

Quigg lost by a unanimous points decision to suffer only the second pro loss of his career after coming in nearly 3lb over the nine-stone limit.

The former WBA superbantamweight king blamed a foot he fractured four weeks ago and claimed he did not want to disappoint his fans who had paid thousands to see him fight in California.

“I didn’t do it as a tactic,” said a gutted Quigg (below). “Four weeks ago I fractured my foot and it hindered my road work.

“I was well on track for making the weight and I was cutting the weight earlier.

“But because I was cutting it earlier, my body decided to shut down and on Thursday morning I was 3lb over. I did four sessions that day and my weight didn’t budge. So I take full responsibility.

“I didn’t want to let down my fans who had already paid and travelled.

“I have taken a bit of stick back home, with some people saying I am unprofessional, but I’m not unprofessional at all.

“I’m a professional, I don’t cut corners.”

Quigg, who suffered a broken nose during the fight, produced a gutsy display against the unbeaten Mexican, who won 117-111 (twice) and 118-110 on the judges’ scorecards in the pouring rain at the StubHub Center, home of MLS side LA Galaxy. The Bury fighter hurt Valdez in the fifth and 11th rounds with a couple of left hooks and left the champion with a broken jaw and lost tooth.

But for all Quigg’s undoubted heart, the classy Valdez was quicker and more precise, to the delight of his fans at the StubHub.

Quigg said: “I’m gutted but there are no excuses, the better man won.

“I hurt him a couple of times and he only hurt me once. He’s not the biggest puncher.

“It was a great fight but I came up short tonight.”