Scott’s return to home turf brings a buzz
SCOTT Quigg is the forgotten man of British boxing, but he still has what it takes to become a two-weight world champion.
He left our gym three years ago to move to America, but now he is back as he prepares to face Jono Carroll at the Manchester Arena in March.
We parted ways amicably in 2016, he wanted to try something new, but when I got the call asking if I was interested in taking Scott back I said the door was always open for him.
He has been working at one of the best gyms in the world, the Wild Card, and you just can’t buy that sort of experience.
He has been rubbing shoulders with some of the best – Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto – that is only good for his education.
On the flip side, when you go over to America and try and launch a career over there, you can get forgotten about here. When Scott was boxing at the Arena regularly against the likes of Kiko Martinez and Carl Frampton he was in the spotlight.
But it’s true – out of sight, out of mind.
He is back here now, he will get all his Manchester fans going again, he is a popular kid and this will be a good hunting ground for him.
He is happy to be back, back to some familiarity. Instead of being on the other side of the world training for a fight in Manchester, he is 10 minutes down the road, his mum’s is nearby and his family – although we don’t have the LA sunshine! He is already back in the gym and the lads have all matured in the time he has been away. They are happy to see him back and the place is buzzing.
He has Callum Smith, Callum Johnson, Liam Smith, Hosea Burton around him, all preparing for big fights so he is surrounding himself with good people.
Scott knows he has a tough fight ahead of him on March 7. Jono Carroll is a good fighter, he boxed for a world title last year. He is a dedicated, disciplined fighter – much like Scott.
When you get to your 30s you sense a maturity in boxers. Scott knows what works for him, he knows his body.
He has moved up to superfeatherweight, the same weight old rival Carl Frampton has moved up to and there are some really, really good fighters in there. But the focus for Scott is to win this fight, look good in doing it and then it is up to his team to get him a world title shot.
At the gym Liam Smith is after another shot at the world title – he wants to be a two-time champion – as does Paul Buttler, Callum Smith wants to be a two-weight champion, Scott wants a second title. They are all in the same boat and hungry, and for some it is a last roll of the dice.
I am sure Scott would like another crack at Frampton, and if one of them won a world title why wouldn’t it happen again?