Quigg Refreshed, Says Santa Cruz Beats Frampton 'Comfortably'

By Terence Dooley

Bury’s former WBA World Super bantamweight holder Scott Quigg (31-1-2 23 KOs) feels refreshed and ready for another title run after taking his first real break from the sport following February's split decision defeat to IBF counterpart Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 early).

The 27-year-old was left nursing a broken jaw following the loss, the first of his career, and decided to take a few months off.  Now, though, he wants to get back in the gym, back in the ring and launch himself into the world title mix.

“I've had time to reflect as I've gone away and let the body and mind switch off from boxing by recharging the batteries,” he said when speaking to Sheldan Keay of the Manchester Evening News.

“I've had two months of complete rest after never really having a break since I was 16.  Every time I had a break it would always be away on a training trip, or even if I was away with the family I would still be training.  It was strange at first as you see a different side of life, but what brings me back and what gets me back to boxing is that nothing gives me the feeling and enjoyment like when I'm in the sport.”

 He added: “I don't wish I would have took more time off previously to the Frampton fight, as all the training I have done over the years has made me the fighter and person that I am.  Now that I'm older and more educated I realise that you do need to switch off sometimes and it means that I'm now refreshed.

“Even with the win it would have made me a better fighter.  Those who say a loss improves you more than a win say it because they don't analyse their performances the same.  They'll just think that because they won a fight, everything is fine.  I'm not like that as I analyse every fight.  Even though I lost this time, I still analysed it the same way that I did when I beat Kiko Martinez last July.”

A rematch with Frampton looks a long way off now that the Belfast-based boxer has moved up to featherweight in pursuit of Leo Santa Cruz’s WBA Super World title.  They clash in New York on July 30.  However, Quigg believes that Frampton will also finish the year with a loss on his ledger once the final bell has sounded in that one.

“I think Santa Cruz wins against Frampton and does it quite comfortably,” he predicted.  “People will think I'm saying that because I'm bitter, but I'm not.  After being in there with him he couldn't cope when I started putting the pressure on him, and Santa Cruz will do that from the first bell.”

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