Sweet LA for Scott after States switch
SCOTT Quigg says heading to Los Angeles to train with Freddie Roach was the best thing he could have done for his careeer.
The Bury boxer returns to the ring for the first time since relocating to California when he faces Viorel Simion in a IBF featherweight title eliminator at Wembley Stadium tonight.
It takes place on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s huge world heavyweight title showdown with Wladimir Klitschko, with 90,000 fans set to be in attendance.
Quigg is excited to be back in action, and insists working with Roach has made him better than he’s ever been.
“Things couldn’t be going better. I’ve always wanted to keep improving, and making the change is the best thing I could have done,” he said.
“The work I’ve been putting in with Freddie is great, and I feel like I’m back at school as I’m just constantly learning.
“As a fighter you always want to improve and that gym is the best place to be, you can’t get better preparation.
“I’ve been sparring the likes of Oscar Valdez and Abraham Lopez which has been great, and now it’s time to put what I’ve learned into practice against world-class opposition.
“I’ve got a tough fight ahead but no stone has been left unturned and I’m confident all of the work I’ve put in will be more than enough.
“I feel like I’m performing better than I ever have, and I have a great platform this weekend to make a statement.”
Simion has lost just one of his 22 fights, with that defeat coming against Lee Selby at Craven Park in Hull four years ago.
If Quigg can defeat Simion, it would set up a fight against Selby, with the Welshman currently holding the IBF featherweight title.
Quigg is glad to be competing in a new division, and thinks it was the right time to step up to featherweight.
“This training camp has been spot on. It’s my second fight at featherweight and for my first fight at that weight in December I’d been out of the ring for eight months and had four months out of the gym too, so I turned into a pudding,” he said.
“This time I’ve stayed in shape since the last fight so everything has gone really well and people will see that.
“The move up in weight has been great. I’ve been at super-bantamweight since I was 15 so stepping up was needed.
“At featherweight I feel stronger and more comfortable, so I’m a lot happier, and now this is the perfect time to make an assault back on the title scene.”