Quigley confident ahead of Tapia fight

This Thursday on ESPN2, we’ll see the premiere episode of “Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN,” a partnership between the cable sports giant and Golden Boy Promotions, of course, which will return boxing to ESPN airwaves after the cancellation of Friday Night Fights, and a brief and not very fruitful partnership with Premier Boxing Champions.

The first main event for the series will be a middleweight showdown between unbeaten Irishman Jason Quigley (12-0, 10 KO) and young veteran Glen Tapia (23-3, 15 KO), a former prospect of note himself.

Quigley, 25, is just two years his opponent’s junior, but is years fresher than that in the ring. He turned pro in 2014 and plowed through novice opponents until last year, when he took a step up against James de la Rosa and went the 10-round distance for the first time, winning every round on all three judges’ scorecards. He followed that with a first round knockout of Jorge Melendez in December, the last time he was in the ring.

Tapia in theory represents another step up, but Quigley’s confidence is on full display in this ESPN interview:

“I suppose on paper he is [my best opponent so far], but every opponent so far has been the best so far. He's had a great career, been in with some great fighters like James Kirkland and David Lemieux, who he fought last time out, so he's been at a good level. I expect him to come in 100-percent prepared because this is his chance too to get his name back up there. He's coming off two defeats so he has a point to prove. But this is my time and I'm not going to let any man stop me.”

The full interview is worth a look, because it reveals Quigley as not just another good prospect, but one with a lot of personality who has some potential star quality.

What do you think of Quigley going into this fight? Is this a young fighter who can become a real player in the near future?