Amid reports that he is set for a monumental bout with Saul Canelo Alvarez, Irish boxer Jason Quigley joined us on Friday's OTB AM to discuss the likelihood of a fight with the Mexican world champion.
One among many potential opponents for Saul Canelo Alvarez initially, Jason Quigley confirmed on Friday's OTB AM that he is now among a select few thought to be in the reckoning for a bout with the Mexican.
"I think it between about two or three," he explained of the potential opponents Canelo Alvarez is eyeing up, "and I have been offered the fight and asked if I would take it and of course I would.
"So, we're just waiting now to hear back confirmation really. Fingers crossed, the fight can get made and we can get in there and mix it up with Alvarez.
"I don't know what Team Canelo or any of those guys are saying in terms of who they want him to fight, and for all we know it could be decided already and they're just waiting to call one of us.
"There is no inkling that I'm the favourite of the remaining boxers or that I've been given the nod, but I'm in the mix and let us hope they can pick me out of it."
Almost one year ago to the day, Jason Quigley recorded the first professional defeat of his boxing career when he went down to Tureano Johnson in California.
A surprising loss that sparked serious changes for the Donegal native, he parted company with his Sheffield-based trainer Dominic Ingle shortly thereafter.
Over the 12 months since that defeat, however, Quigley recruited the former middleweight world champion Andy Lee as his trainer and has recorded two successive wins from two fights.
"To get in there and mix it up with the best in the world," he explained, "that is it for me. I would decline all other fights to get in there with Canelo.
"I want to see how good he is because he is the main man in boxing right now, not just the middleweight division, but in boxing and I want to test myself against the best."
A four-weight world champion, the only defeat Canelo Alvarez has suffered as a professional came against Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
Despite Alvarez's strong standing in the sport of boxing, however, two failed drugs tests in 2018 resulted in the Mexican serving a 6-month ban.
For what the fighter claimed was a consequence of his having eaten contaminated meat, Jason Quigley addressed any potential concerns there may be about getting into the ring with Canelo Alvarez given the circumstances.
"He has made that mistake and he is going to be a lot more closely watched now," suspects Quigley. "So, while I can't say I have 100% faith in the [anti-doping regulations] in boxing, I do believe that at the kind of level he is fighting at they will make sure the right tests are there.
"If it comes to it, I will insist too that both fighters will be tested from the very start of the training camp to a few days after the fight in the contract.
"This is a very dangerous sport we are in and to be taking an enhancers or anything like that, it is shocking in this sport because it is dangerous enough without that."
28 May 2020; Boxer Jason Quigley during a training session in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/SportsfileIf afforded the opportunity to fight the Mexican, Jason Quigley appreciates that very few onlookers will be expecting much from him.
"I wouldn't get in there if I didn't think I had a chance of beating him," admitted Quigley. "Boxing is a difficult game and if I had no hope of beating him, I just wouldn't take the fight.
"Yes, I am a massive underdog but I know the heart and determination that I have. I am not going to tell you, 'Oh yeah, I'll go in and knock him out'.
"We're not going to go all Mayweather vs McGregor here, but I know I can give him one hell of a fight."
Asked if he had a message for Saul Canelo Alvarez as the decision on a fight remains uncertain, Quigley responded: "You're going to get the fists of fury from the hills of Donegal. I will give him absolutely everything I have!"
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