Irishman Jason Quigley headlines Golden Boy's ESPN boxing debut on Thursday
It's not a name most fight fans will recognize, especially since he grew up in Ireland. But once you watch Jason Quigley fight, you might quickly realize what you've been missing.
Quigley, 25, who now resides in Woodland Hills, Calif., is talented enough to be chosen as the headliner for the inaugural edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN on Thursday night (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET).
The middleweight nicknamed "El Animal," (12-0, 10 KOs) faces a veteran New Jersey boxer in Glen Tapia (23-3, 15 KOs) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif. He couldn't be prouder of the honor GBP has bestowed on him.
"I feel honored and humbled that Golden Boy has chosen me to lead the ESPN series, and be able to show the world what kind of talent I have," Quigley said. "I have a lot of fans from back home who are coming to the U.S. to support me, and I am honestly so humbled by that. I hope that one day I can give back, and go home to Ireland to give my hometown fans a special treat."
Quigley is trained by Manny Robles, who also trains fellow Irishman Mick Conlan, who won his pro debut last weekend in New York, along with other champions such as Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno.
Quigley is unconcerned about the skills Tapia possesses, only worrying about his own training.
"I never focus on what my opponent brings to the table - whether they're a good fighter, a bad fighter, whether they are talented or not - I am only focused on what I bring to the table that night. I only concentrate on myself, and the fights before me."
The Irishman, who gained traction when he defeated James De La Rosa on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez's stunning KO of Amir Khan last May at the boxing debut of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, came back in December to KO Jorge Melendez in the first round after three knockdowns.
Like many Anglo fighters, Quigley admires the Mexican style of fighting as well as some of the great Mexican warriors and has gained a sizable Mexican fan base.
"I love my Mexican fans. In fact, my love of boxing comes from Mexican fighters, especially Marco Antonio Barrera," Quigley said. "When I watched him fight for the first time, and saw him transform in the ring I was just hooked on the sport and I knew that I needed to become a boxer."
"My team and I have done our homework and we have put together a plan A, B, C and D so that come fight night we are prepared for any fighter we might face. Glen Tapia needs to be prepared for what Jason Quigley is bringing to the ring. I'm not going home empty. "
Quigley vs. Tapia is a 10-round battle for the vacant NABF middleweight.
(Photo of Quigley getting his hands wrapped during a recent media workout by Lina Baker, SeeYouRingside Photography)