Scott Quigg Excited By Roach Connection, Facing Valdez in The U.S.

By Terence Dooley 

Scott Quigg’s decision to relocate to LA to work with Freddie Roach was not a kneejerk reaction to his decision defeat to Carl Frampton in February 2016.  Unlike many major fighters, Quigg (34-1-2, 25 KOs) had another outing under long-time trainer Joe Gallagher—a ninth-round stoppage over Jose Cayetano in December 2016—before deciding to take the plunge in order to get the most out of the next stage of his career.

Wins over Viorel Simion (W12 in April) and Oleg Yefimovych (W TKO 6 in November) allowed the two to gel both in the gym and in a competitive environment ahead of Quigg’s challenge to WBO featherweight holder Oscar Valdez, which takes place at the StubHub Centre, Carson live on ESPN on March 10.  The 29-year-old has made the trip to LA a number of times in the past yet has now fully left behind his home comforts and spends the bulk of his training camp working away under Roach’s watchful eye.

“I’ve seen the lads from Joe’s a few times, but have not been back in the gym up there,” said Quigg when talking to BoxingScene.  “Going to America was something I’ve needed.  I’ve been over there a few times for little training camps—(I) loved it every time—and I needed a new environment to freshen things up.  I went out there for three-weeks to speak and train with Freddie, looking to get that buzz back again, and then I came home and knew it was definitely what I needed.  I flew back out, have made the move out there and am enjoying it.”

Roach has worked with a host of top-class boxers.  A former fighter himself, the trainer likes aggressive fighters yet Quigg told me that there is also a lot of method to what they do, and has vowed to show a few new wrinkles in his latest world title tilt.

“That experience of being there before was the reason I went over,” he said.  “I know the quality of the training, the type of person Freddie is and that we get on well—I feel I’m learning every time I’m in the gym.  I feel that I’m at my best when I’m out there.

“Freddie gets you to box smart and aggressive, but when you see the opening to take the finish then you take it and don’t mess about.  Beforehand, it is all about being clever.  Freddie was an aggressive fighter, but what he does is all about being smart behind the jab.”

Roach’s cornerwork and the way he has dealt with Parkinsons over the years has also impressed Quigg.  “Simple, calm, and he tells you what you need to do,” he answered when asked what Roach is like in the corner.

“The communication is very good.  He will say something or I’ll ask him about something and work on it.  A lot of fighters come to the corner to get a drink and are breathing out their arse.  I am calm, ready to listen to instructions and prepared to bring over to fight night the things I’ve done in the gym.

“Freddie has time for everyone.  He battles on himself against Parkinson’s.  He was a real fighter in the ring and is even bigger a fighter out the ring.  He doesn’t look for sympathy, he just gets on with it by coming to the gym every day no matter if it is a good or a bad day.”

The former British and WBA World Super bantamweight titlist was left nursing a broken jaw and the loss of his ‘0’ following his defeat to IBF counterpart Frampton.  Left with some time on his hands, Quigg thought long and hard about what to do next before making his move.  “I spoke to other fighters when I was out with a broken jaw, I’ll take advice but am my own person so the way I am is different,” he said.

“I’m a big believer in dealing with things myself.  If I have a question to ask I’ll do it myself.  And vice versa, if I’ve upset anyone they can come straight to me.  It is just life, you go through things and you solve them.

“I manage my own career, Eddie [Hearn] promotes the fights, and I employ a good friend and lawyer who looks over everything when I want to discuss anything and go forward, so I do have people who help guide me, but I take pride in the fact I put a lot of work into my own career.

“From an early age, I was with Brian Hughes, and I saw the way Michael Jennings, Tommy McDonagh, Gary Lockett and others went about things.  I used to keep my ears open to what was going on before I turned professional, especially when they talked about money and that, so I was always trying to educate myself.  When money is involved there are always people looking out for themselves, which means you have to look after yourself as well to make sure you go down the route and get the fights that help you.

“I saw Joe deal with the business side of things and took a lot from that—I’m appreciative of that and the time he spent with me.  Our first fight was to become British champion, then world champion and then the big fight with Frampton, which didn’t go our way but we got through it and still got to the top together.   We had a good win and then parted on good terms.”

Quigg stays in shape between fights.  This dedication to his craft means that he does not spend the bulk of his training camp chipping away at his weight and can work on other things.  It also means that he has reserves of fitness and stamina to dip into if the going gets tough.

“I’ve been in the gym everyday bar the odd Sunday,” he said.  “I’ve had no pressure to go into the gym, it is good R & R because I’d have nothing to do otherwise.  I had my Christmas dinner, the odd bit of (unclean) food here and there, but kept in good nick because I knew something big was in the pipeline and didn’t want to get caught with my pants down.

“I’ve got my own unit where I have all my own gym equipment.  I sometimes do a few days at the Hatton Gym with Ricky and a few of the lads, just practicing what I’ve been doing over in America.  I’ve got footage of my mitt work and training with Freddie so I know what I’m doing and can do what I do over there when I’m back at home.  Going to Ricky’s gym just freshens things up a bit.

“I’m always in the gym, obviously, and people say an active fighter is when you are most at you best.  It isn’t good to have to restart the engine to get going again, but the rest was good as well and is definitely going to be a plus.”

Valdez has stopped 19 opponents en route to his 23-0 record yet Quigg is confident going in after sharing the sparring ring with the Mexican, gleaning the insights that he believes will see him right come fight night.  “I sparred him last year to prepare for Simion, so if they are anything to go by then expect a war,” he said.

“He’s not put a foot wrong, really, as he’s 23 undefeated with 19 KOs and some of them were blast outs.  He was put own in his last fight [a decision win over previously-undefeated Genesis Servani] , but I don’t take too much confidence from that.  Although I take a little from it as I know I can hurt him.

“I’ve watched him fight, he is exciting to watch and tries to knock you out.  In the past, I was watching his fights for the excitement of watching him, now I watch them to see that he is there to be hit and I can capitalise on that.”

“Any fight for a world title isn’t going to be easy.  I wouldn’t want an easy fight.  I know how hard I train, how much I put in, and I want to test how good I am.  I believe I am one of the best in the division, so I believe I can beat him.  I can’t make any mistakes, and neither can he as I’ll punish him and vice versa.” 

“Fighting someone who is well known and established on ESPN is the best possible platform I could ask for,” he added.  “If I go in there and win it then I believe I become a star in America.  They are building him up, he is making a lot of noise, and rightly so based on his performances, so I can go over there and make a bigger name for myself.”

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