'It feels like I've come home': Jason Quigley relishing National Stadium return

Jason Quigley took a look around the old place on Friday and knew he was home.

Since the early days of his professional career, he has craved a return to Irish soil.

On Saturday night, Quigley will finally step upon an Irish canvas, with his 22nd pro bout to take place at the iconic National Stadium - where he won ten Irish titles as an amateur

The corridors of the National Stadium are familiar to Quigley. The old venue, built in 1939, hosted Quigley’s ten Irish title wins, including the 2013 Elite middleweight victory that launched him into a new orbit.

“This feels like I’ve come home,” a relaxed Quigley said at his weigh-in on Friday.

“If ever there was a venue that I feel I can box in and say that it’s home, it’s here in the National Stadium.

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“It has been a great place for me to come and fight through the years as an amateur. It’s very exciting to come here and do it as a professional. It’s brilliant and I’m really excited for Saturday.

“Weighing in here was an experience. Being here as a professional in Ireland, in a venue I’ve boxed in many times before, it’s a great feeling.”

Quigley ends a 16-month hiatus from the ring as he headlines ‘The Return’ card - a collaboration between Sheer Sports Management and Elite Sports Promotions.

The Ballybofey man (19-2, 14KOs) faces Hungarian journeyman Gabor Gorbics (26-36-3), a late replacement.

Quigley touched the scales at 75.7kgs with Gorbics also beneath the 76kg limit, weighing in at 75.4kgs.

Quigley has retained lofty ambitions in the sport, but for now the focus is solely on taking in his first pro outing in Ireland.

He said: “This is about a great performance on Saturday night. It’s not about looking down the line or looking behind us, but just looking at Saturday and putting on my true self.”

Since suffering defeat to Demetrius Andrade with the world middleweight title on the line in November 2021, Quigley has carefully considered his options.

The 31-year-old is enjoying the limelight again and wants to give his supporters a night to remember.

He said: “It’s great to be back doing what I do. This is what I do. I’m looking forward to getting into that ring. You’re going to see a me that has been there for years.

“I’ll give it my absolute all, as I do every time I get in there. I’m looking forward to expressing myself and being myself. I want to show the talent I was given.”

Among the crowd at the National Stadium will be Robert Diaz. The iconic matchmaker, who worked with Golden Boy Promotions while Quigley was promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s company, flew into Dublin on Thursday.

Diaz left Golden Boy in January, but has jetted across the Atlantic from Los Angeles to show his support for the Donegal puncher.

Quigley said: “Robert Diaz being here is special for me. Robert flying here from Los Angeles, it shows the relationship that we have. It went beyond Golden Boy, beyond LA, beyond professional boxing. I have been blessed to have Robert by my side, along with Ken (Sheer) and Lyle (Green) and the Sheer Sports team in America. To have Robert here, it really puts a smile on my face.”