A few weeks removed from a world title fight, Jason Quigley is relishing the chance to showcase his talents in New Hampshire on November 19th.
The Donegal boxer knows it's been a long time coming and spoke to Matchroom about his sentiments before the big fight against Demetrius 'Boo Boo' Andrade. "End goal is always to fight and win a world title," he said.
"These moments that you look for in your career, these moments that you've trained for. You get good days, you get bad days in the gym, in fights you get down, you get ups; that's part of boxing."
"What keeps you going, what keeps you driven is getting that world strap wrapped around you and that's something that's very close to my grasps coming up on November 19th."
The challenge of opponent Demetrius Andrade will propose a unique challenge for Quigley, as the American looks to remain undefeated.
At 30-0, many tipped the WBO middleweight champion to be fighting some of the top PPV draws in the sport, but for some reason that has fallen short.
"Demetrius has been calling out all the big names, he's been showing up to the Canelo press conferences," Quigley said. "I really do think that those guys are avoiding him for a reason."
The Underdog Portrayal
Quigley will go into this fight as an underdog, and believes all the comments writing him off are only motivation at this point. That's if he gets to read them.
"I've a lot of fuel and a lot of fire in me anyway, but that just kind of adds a bit of diesel or petrol to the fight as it is. The more people writing me off, the less pressure that's going to be on you."
"When you're young, if anyone says anything bad about you, you've got that chip on your shoulder and you want to retaliate. I feel now, that I'm well matured for reading comments. I don't even read them."
"If I see a comment that's slating me or giving me a bit of grief or whatever, obviously I'll see it and read it but I'll just let it go again. It won't stay with me, it won't stick with me."
Zoned in 🥊☘️
.#AndradeQuigley #November19
.@AndyLeeBoxing @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/hoR6nuORU7— Jason Quigley (@jay_quigley) October 28, 2021
Quigley's Amateur Background
Having spent many years as an amateur boxer, Quigley has kept a keen eye on the fighters within his reach. Andrade has been on his radar for quite some time.
"He's a few years older than me so before I was kind of on the senior panel, the senior cycle on the Irish team, I remember watching him in the Chicago World Championships where he won them."
"I thought he was a special talent back then. To be so far on in my career and challenging for the world title, it's a great blessing."
Speaking of his own experience, the Donegal man reckons his own amateur boxing roots will help him in replicating his opponent on November 19th.
"You're never gonna really get a replica sparring partner in anything along those lines," Quigley said. " Demetrius is an individual type fighter, he's got his own style and he's got his own way about him in the ring."
"I'm very lucky though and grateful that I've had a very long extensive amateur background as well. You come up against all sorts in the amateur game. You could be fighting five different types of fighters in a week."
"I'm confident getting in there that Demetrius is going to be a style that I haven't been up against, but I'm going to be well able to adjust to it and get on with the plan in hand."
Jason Quigley KO's Daniel Rosario in R6. RIP Liver function. #GBPonESPN pic.twitter.com/QhTYHLDR4h
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 1, 2018
Fight Night Aspirations
With the fight being in enemy territory, it doesn't phase the Irishman. On November 19th, he thinks the Americans are in for a rude awakening.
"It's geographically Demetrius' backyard, but trust me come fight night there'll be more Irish in there than there will be Andrade fans."
What would it mean for Quigley to have his hand raised and be crowned a world champion? It's not something that hasn't crossed his mind.
"I've been visualizing it and I've been going over things. You get a moment on your own. The rooms quiet, there's no TV the phones off or whatever, and you're thinking I have a world title fight coming up."
"These things go through your head, 'And the new', it's definitely something that runs through your mind and something I'll definitely look forward to hearing on November 19th."
His final message to Andrade; "Boo Boo, I'll see you on November 19th. Let's get ready to rumble."
See Also: Denis Irwin's Wanderer Years: An Irish Legend's Graceful Swansong
