Sport

'I'll give him one hell of a fight...' Jason Quigley ready for war against WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade

Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley pose after weighing in for their WBO middleweight title rumble at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley pose after weighing in for their WBO middleweight title rumble at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom. Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley pose after weighing in for their WBO middleweight title rumble at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.

JASON Quigley promised to give Demetrius Andrade “one hell of a fight” when he called the WBO middleweight champion out after his thrilling victory over Shane Mosley junior in May.

That same night, Andrade tweeted that he could beat both Quigley and Mosley with one hand tied behind his back. Fast forward six months and both get the chance to prove their boasts when they do battle at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight.

A smiling, relaxed Quigley looked like he was out of a stroll down Glenfin Street in his native Ballybofey at yesterday’s weigh-in (he hit the scales at 159.8lbs, Andrade was bang on the limit at 160lbs). Lapping up the atmosphere and the support of his fans – who easily outnumbered the Andrade camp - he posed for selfies afterwards and gave the impression of a man who was enjoying the occasion.

“I’m going to put on a show in front of my Irish fans,” he said.

“I’m going to get in there and give him one hell of a fight. Demetrius is a great champion and I’m going to have to be on top of my game but I believe, if I bring my best to the ring, I can become world champion.

“This is a very exciting time for me. I watched Demetrius at the World Amateur Championships in Chicago when I was there with the Ireland youth team and I was very impressed with him.

“I didn’t think then that I’d be challenging him for a world title but I’m here now and I’m looking forward to it and excited to step into the ring. I’m a young, hungry fighter looking to become a world champion. Demetrius is a world champion and I’m really looking forward to fighting him for that world title.”

There hasn’t been the merest hint of animosity between the fighters. At Wednesday’s press conference it was all handshakes and smiles and there was more of the same yesterday.

But it will be a different story when they get in the ring and Quigley can expect Andrade to be at his throat from the start. Luke Keeler was on the canvas before the ringside bell had stopped vibrating and Welsh hardman Liam Williams was also down early in April but recovered and lasted the distance with ‘Boo’.

Andrade, who is chasing a fight against marquee names at middleweight or super-middleweight including Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Jermell Charlo, says there will be no slip-up tonight.

“People are going to come out because they know I have the talent and skill and I’m going to bring a fight if Quigley brings a fight,” he said.

“This about me and Quigley dancing and getting it on. There’s going to be a performance and I’m going to make a statement - I make statements every single time because I keep winning.

“I give Jason Quigley respect for stepping up to the plate and taking on this challenge and may the best man win but, unfortunately for Quigley, that’ll be me.

“We are going to go in there and put on a show, we’ll perform at our best and let people know that the middleweight division is one of the best out there.

“I’m the most confident fighter in the world and I don’t look at anybody like they can beat me.

“We’re going to get in the ring, we’re gonna showcase what we’re made out of. I’m here, 30-0 and I’m going to be 31-0 on Friday night.”

Tactical Take

HOW do you solve a southpaw conundrum like Demetrius Andrade? Up to this point, former world amateur champion ‘Boo’ has been able to out-box the 12 opponents he hasn’t knocked out.

In the press conference after his win against Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo Alvarez taunted him that he “fights nobody”.

“You’re a horrible fighter man,” said the grinning Mexican but Andrade’s style has won him world titles at light-middleweight and middleweight.

Finding sparring partners to replicate him is almost impossible but Quigley has a trump card in coach Andy Lee who sparred many rounds with Andrade during his own career. As a former European amateur champion and world silver medallist, Quigley comes with genuine pedigree and ring smarts and Lee has resurrected the career of a man who seemed to have lost his way with Dominic Ingle.

In his last outing against Shane Mosley junior, Quigley’s conditioning was the best of his career. He stands tall and his power and technique was still there in the 10th round when a fighting finish allowed him to shade a nip-and-tuck encounter. He was up on his toes and boxing off the back foot in the latter rounds and that augurs well for his prospects tonight.

Andrade started like a house on fire against his last two challengers - Liam Williams and Luke Keeler - and dropped both early on but Williams in particular was able to get a foothold as the fight progressed.

Quigley’s gameplan will be based around splitting the fight into three four-round chapters.

1. Taking the sting out of him: Early on it’ll be about getting close to the American and dragging him into a brawl that will nullify his power and his southpaw skills. Doing this will tie Andrade up and tire him out but of course there is the risk that Andrade will catch him cold on the way in.

2. Getting his respect: After the first four rounds the picture will become clearer but Quigley has to maintain a high energy style that keeps pressure on Andrade. Keeping his chin tucked in, he’ll look to jab and feint to close the distance and then punch with Andrade behind a tight guard but does he have the ‘equaliser’ to keep his opponent at bay?

3. Coming on strong: There have been question marks over how comfortable Andrade is at 160lbs. Quigley should turn out to be the fresher man in the final third when his nimble footwork and chopping right hands could make the difference.

Verdict: If Quigley produces the performance of his life then you can’t rule out a shock tonight but he is up against it. The Donegal man is getting this shot because the marquee names around middleweight and super-middleweight have avoided Andrade and ‘Boo Boo’ will mean to make a statement to the world.

Quigley is game and talented but this is another level and he will do well to last the distance tonight.

Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley will clash for the WBO middleweight title. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley will clash for the WBO middleweight title. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom. Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley will clash for the WBO middleweight title. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.

THIS is the belt Steve Collins battled Chris Eubank for on that legendary night at Millstreet, county Cork all those years ago. It’s the belt Andy Lee won when he knocked out Mat Korobov in Las Vegas and then jumped up on the top rope in Las Vegas and roared: “Up the Irish!”

This WBO middleweight strap has strong links to the Emerald Isle and Donegal’s Jason Quigley intends to become the third Irishman to hold it when he fights defending champion Demetrius Andrade in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight (live on DAZN).

Quigley will be roared on by a huge Irish support at the SNHU Arena and he’s counting on them to help him bridge the gap between the chasing pack and the genuine world class operators. He is the underdog but has been around the block and, with 19 wins and a single loss from his seven years as a pro, he is now experienced enough to step up to the level which will challenge him to produce his very best.

“Boxing is a crazy old game and any man can win at any stage of the fight,” said the Ballybofey native.

“Every man is beatable and I’m looking to get in there and give the performance of my career and I believe that I can become world champion.

“It doesn’t matter what sport you’re in, the Irish are always out to support their own no matter what it is. Every day this week there’s droves of Irish coming into the east coast so I’m looking forward to getting into the arena and soaking up the atmosphere because it’s going to be something special for sure.”

Standing in the way of Quigley matching the achievements of Collins and Andy Lee (his coach) is a man making the fifth defence of the sought-after WBO belt. Rhode Island native Andrade is a sinister box of tricks, a 30-0 southpaw with devastating power in both hands who put Luke Keeler on the seat of his pants less than four seconds into their meeting last year.

‘BooBoo’ is a former world amateur champion and a two-weight pro champion and Quigley will have to weather an early storm and hit him with everything he’s got to bring that belt back home.