By Terence Dooley
Bury’s Scott Quigg (34-2-2, 25 KOs) may be on the outside looking in when it comes to the current domestic featherweight division yet the former WBA World Super bantamweight titlist believes that he is still a natural rival for either interim WBO holder Carl Frampton or IBF World champion Josh Warrington should either man need an opponent either before or after their mooted fight takes place.
There has been heavy speculation that Frampton will get Warrington next if he gets by Australia-based Luke Jackson in Belfast this weekend, but Quigg feels that he is a key part of what could become a three-man round robin despite basing himself in the US recently and losing to Oscar Valdez for the full WBO title in March.
Talking to David Kelly of the Belfast Telegraph, Quigg was at pains to point out that he still has a lot to offer and that he is desperate to gain a revenge win over Frampton, who defeated him by a Split Decision at the Manchester Arena in February 2016.
“I think it would be great to see the three of us in the mix fighting each other to see who the No.1 featherweight in the UK is,” said Quigg.
“I believe I'm the best and if Frampton faces Warrington then the winner would have to fight me to see who the No.1 is. Everyone knows that in my fight with Frampton he won the first half and I won the second half of the fight—deep down he knows it. Of course I would love the rematch but if it doesn't happen so be it.”
Quigg made a similar argument earlier this year only for Team Frampton to claim that Quigg wanted too much money for a rematch, a claim that he was keen to counter. “To say that I priced myself out of the fight with Frampton is nonsense,” he said.
“I told the person acting on my behalf that I wanted half a million quid for the fight even though I knew they would probably turn it down. But the ball was in their court and I expected an offer to come back but it didn't. They didn't want the fight, they had already signed up Jackson for the fight at Windsor.”
In the meantime, Quigg will turn his attention to his comeback outing, which is pencilled in for October 20 as he seeks to ensure that 2018 ends with a ‘W’ and he is firmly back amongst the domestic pack.
Please send news and views to @Terryboxing.