In the sweltering heat of the StubHub Center in Carson in 2014, Jason Quigley took a mental note.
By Chris McNulty in Boston
Quigley was just starting out in his pro career when he fought on the undercard to Kell Brook’s IBF world welterweight title fight with Shawn Porter.
Quigley won his second pro bout when Fernando Najera didn’t answer the bell for their fourth round.
A month beforehand, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the Ballybofey man recorded a first round debut win over Howard Reece and his toes were only being tipped in the pro waters.
His mind went back recently.
When Quigley made the decision late last year to leave Los Angeles and move closer to home, the moment returned from August 2014 and it edged him to join up with Dominic Ingle, whom he had watched closely as Brook’s trainer three years previously.
“The night before the fight, the day of the weigh in, I noticed Kell and Dom heading for a walk down the street and something hit home,” Quigley says.
“There seemed to be a really good vibe there. At the time, I had no intention of going anywhere, but right away I could see it was a good set up and liked the way they seemed to be working.
“I also liked Dom’s discipline with his fighters as well. After he took on Billy Joe Saunders, Dom said after his first fight about how fighters go away for a few months and then come back.
“He was making the point that in what normal job could you just head away for a few months? Sure, take the time off, but you get back in doing something.”
Quigley might have been inactive since last March, but a meeting later in the year with Golden Boy Promotions made his promoters take note.
The Ballybofey man arrived back in Los Angeles in such good shape, Golden Boy matchmaker Roberto Diaz remarked that he was ‘in better shape than some active fighters’.
Quigley has swapped LA for Sheffield having joined up with Ingle, who will work the corner for the former European gold and World silver medalist for the first time when he faces Daniel Rosario (11-3, 10KOs) tonight in Quincy.
Jason Quigley with coach Dominic Ingle
Ingle had the unbeaten Donegal middleweight (13-0, 10KOs) on point at 159.4lbs for his weigh-in yesterday evening.
Quigley has binned the ‘El Animal’ nickname that had been given to him by the clan of the Rock Gym in Carson, where he had trained under Manny Robles.
“I’m a different animal now, a different beast,” Quigley says.
“I’m coming in now with a coach who isn’t trying to have me in a style that isn’t really me. I have a coach who understands my style and works with my style. We have good rhythm together. It works well and you’ll see a bond and a relationship that brings the best out of me.
“I haven’t changed my style or changed the way I am. I’m still a very good technical boxer, good hand speed and good movement. I can fight when I want to fight. I’m coming in now with full confidence behind me, but I’m back to doing what I do best – skilful boxing. I’ll show that on fight night.”
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