Jason Quigley feels more gears and glory will come

On a bleary-eyed drive from Dublin Airport to Ballybofey last week, Jason Quigley felt the fire raging.

Just two days after a defeat to Edgar Berlanga following a 12-round dust up at Madison Square Garden, Quigley’s body and mind told him that there was more to give.

it was Quigley’s first time to go 12 rounds since turning professional. A year-and-a-half on from a damaging defeat to Demetrius Andrade, who stopped the Donegal puncher in the second round of their WBO world middleweight clash in New Hampshire, Quigley felt vindicated in returning to the squared circle.

Defeated, yes, but Quigley felt energised again. Renewed, almost.

‘Blonde Bomber’ Taylor Parke goes for gold in Stirling

Irish Junior Cadet champion Taylor Parke is among the Donegal boxers who will take part in the William Wallace Box Cup in Scotland this week

“I have a real desire to get even better,” Quigley said. “As soon as I touched down in Dublin and for the whole drive back to Donegal, all I wanted to do was get back in the gym and continue the work.

“It was like I had just started and was learning the sport again I know I have another couple of gears in me. I didn’t see that in my previous fights. I seen now if I can continue fighting frequently that I can get a few more gears in me, I can get more gears.

“Everything is starting to fall into place.”

This week, Quigley was back working with his coach Andy Lee in Dublin. The influence of Lee, who was back in Quigley’s corner after visa issues prevented him traveling to the fight with Andrade and the previous bout, a win over Shane Mosley Jr, was obvious in the week leading up to the Berlanga fight in New York.

Before his comeback clash, a 10-round win over a durable Gabor Gorbics in Dublin earlier this year that rid him of the ring rust, sports psychologist Shane O’Sullivan was added to his team.

Quigley felt different.

“You don’t need to be hyped up about the fight the whole time,” he said. “You just need to be ready for the fight.”

In between the Gorbics and Berlanga fights, Quigley wed his long-time partner April McManus and the pair will honeymoon shortly.

Between the ropes, Quigley also has clarity as regards his future.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Andrade defeat asked testing questions within. Quigley felt that he had a wrong to right.

“Yes, it was great to fight for a world title, but going out the way I did, didn’t sit right with me,” Quigley said.

“I really wanted to put a marker back on my name and I believe that I did that in Madison Square Garden. It was disappointing coming away at the wrong end of a decision and since I’ve come home, it’s weird because people are coming up and saying well done.

“I was so happy with the performance because I put a bit of respect and a marker back on my name again.

“To reach the pinnacle and not come the right end of it and see a little bit of credit taken away, I suppose it didn’t sit too well with me. I really wanted to put the mark down.

“One shot can change everything - and that happened in the Andrade fight. I wanted to show my worth.”

Quigley felt good across the 12 rounds with Berlanga, save for a couple of controversial knockdowns that altered the course somewhat. He has spoked now of having ‘confidence, foundation and stability’ in his boxing.

While he has brought ‘respect’ back to his name again, the marbles are still what motivates him.

“We are in here for glory,” he said. “If you don’t believe you can have those glory nights in this sport, get the hell out. It’s not a sport to be in for the sake of it. Boxing is a very difficult sport and you need confidence to stick at it. I have really found a lease of confidence and progression.”