By Mike Coppinger
Middleweight prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin was offered the Nov. 5 fight with Canadian star, Lucian Bute, but turned it down, wishing to remain at 160 pounds, where he has his eyes on Sergio Martinez.
“I just want to accomplish things as a middleweight,” said Quillin. … “I go beat Bute, I compete as a super middleweight now. They know me as a super middleweight then.”
Quillin hopes to fight next on the Oct. 15 undercard to Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson, but in the meantime he’ll be sparring with Carl Froch, helping the Brit prepare for his big showdown against Andre Ward in the Super Six Finals on Oct. 29.
“If nothing else, it’s an opportunity for me. It’s good experience,” said Quillin. “I just like to fight man, regardless of it’s my mom’s bathroom or this bathroom. Anyone who wants to fight, let’s go.”
Mike Coppinger is a regular boxing freelancer for USA TODAY and Ring Magazine. He’s a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the Ring Ratings Advisory Panel and the Yahoo! Sports Boxing Panel. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger.