Middleweight contender Jason Quigley broke hand in win over Glen Tapia

Jason Quigley/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com

 

Top 10-ranked middleweight Jason Quigley’s trek to a world-title shot has taken a detour.

Quigley (13-0, 10 KOs), of Ireland, this past Thursday won a 10-round unanimous decision over Glen Tapia at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio in the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card. Golden Boy president Eric Gomez on Wednesday announced Quigley sustained a broken right hand and detached tendon early in the bout.

“Though the doctor was surprised that Jason could lift his hand, let alone win a 10-round prize-fight after breaking his hand and ‘shredding’ his tendon, this kind of heart, will and skill is what we have come to expect from Jason,” Gomez said in a statement. “He will have surgery this Friday to repair the hand and is expected to make a full recovery.”

No timeline for Quigley’s return was given.

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Jason Quigley defeats Glen Tapia to win regional belt, figures many more on way

Jason Quigley/Photo courtesy of BoxRec.com

 

Jason Quigley of Ireland won a regional middleweight title on Thursday when he took a unanimous decision over Glen Tapia in the main event at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio. Quigley, ranked No. 10 by one governing body, believes it’s just the beginning of bigger things to come.

“I’m taking this little bambino (title belt) home with me, to my people in Donegal, Ireland and celebrate with my loved ones,” Quigley said. “Then when I come back, I’m going to celebrate with my team. Everyone here has been on my team since my performance on the Canelo-Lara undercard, and this is a steppingstone to many more belts that are coming my way.”

Quigley (13-0, 10 KOs) opened his pro career with a TKO of Howard Reece on July 12, 2014 on the undercard of the junior middleweight bout between Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara won by Alvarez via split-decision at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

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Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman make weight and they can’t wait to rumble

Keith Thurman (right) and Shawn Porter (left)

Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman delivers an uppercut to the jaw of Shawn Porter during their fight in June at Barclays Center, won by Thurman/Photo by Ed Mulholland, Getty Images

 

Danny Garcia and Keith “One Time” Thurman on Friday successfully made weight for their welterweight title-unification bout Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on CBS).

Thurman checked in at 146 1/4 quarters, Garcia was 146 1/2.

The fighters can’t wait to get at one another.

“This fight has been brewing for a long time,” said Thurman, of Clearwater, Fla. “Both of us wanted this fight. There’s a reason why this fight is happening. We’re young, we’re hungry and we’re not trying to wait around. It’s time for this to go down.”

Garcia, a former junior welterweight champion, believes he’s been underestimated for this fight and he aims to prove the doubters wrong.

“People say he’s the bigger man because he’s been at this weight longer than me,” said Garcia, of Philadelphia. “I’m taller than him, I’m wider than him and I have a bigger back than him. I feel like I’m the fresher welterweight.”

Thurman is 27-0 with 22 knockouts. Garcia is 33-0 with 19 knockouts.

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Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman ready for their special night in Brooklyn

Danny Garcia, left, throws a punch at Robert Guerrero during their WBC championship welterweight bout, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Danny Garcia, left, lands a left hook to the jaw of Robert Guerrero in their welterweight title fight in January 2016 at Staples Center. Garcia won a unanimous decision/AP photo by Mark J. Terrill

 

There have been many high-profile welterweight title fights over the years. From Sugar Ray Robinson-Kid Gavilan (rematch, July 1949) to Jose Napoles-Emile Griffith (October 1969) to Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard (June 1980) to Leonard-Tommy Hearns (September 1981) to Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez (September 1993), there have been some great ones.

Keith “One Time” Thurman and Danny Garcia on Saturday will square off in a welterweight title-unification bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on CBS). Although they will be hard-pressed to match the terrific action produced in the aforementioned bouts, both seem to realize the significance of this bout in one of boxing’s beloved weight classes.

“When you look at the facts and our records, it doesn’t get bigger than this,” said Thurman, of Clearwater, Fla. “There’s no comparison to my other fights. This is the biggest fight of my career.”

Thurman is 27-0 with 22 knockouts. Garcia, of Philadelphia, is 33-0 with 19 knockouts. It is a momentous fight for him, too.

“There’s always been some tough fights in the legacies of other great fighters,” Garcia said. “Each fight is a learning experience. Everything in my career has led me to this fight.

“People want to see the best fight the best. This is my chance to prove it to the world that I’m one of the best fighters in the world.”

That the bout is being held in Brooklyn makes it even sweeter, said the fighters, both of whom have fought multiple times at Barclays.

“Brooklyn has one of a kind fight fans,” Thurman said. “The history of this city and the history of boxing in this city is exceptional. The appreciation they have for fighters is one of a kind.”

Said Garcia: “The atmosphere at Barclays Center is amazing. I’ve always requested to fight here and I’m glad they accept me.”

This one is tough to pick. But Garcia has no doubt he’ll be the best man.

“I’m definitely a better fighter than Keith Thurman,” he said. “He’s never been in the ring with a guy like me. Saturday night, I’m going to prove it.”

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