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We expected good action today from Scott Quigg and Jono Carroll, but we wound up with a one-sided mismatch in Manchester, as Dublin’s Carroll completely dominated Quigg en route to an 11th round mercy stoppage.
Carroll (18-1-1, 4 KO) never lost a round on our card, and it’s hard to figure how he might have lost one on any card, as he was in complete control from the first round on. He was the clearly naturally bigger man at 130 pounds against the former 122-pound titleholder, and Quigg looked slow, rusty, and frankly just a bit old in there at age 31.
Quigg (35-3-2, 26 KO) had no real success in the entire fight, but he showed his usual toughness and gave the effort until the bitter end. Carroll hurt Quigg in the 11th round, kept the pressure on, and eventually, trainer Joe Gallagher finally threw in the towel in a fight that was beyond a lost cause.
“I said the whole build-up to this fight, I felt like it was my time to shine,” Carroll said. “I was here when Scott knocked out Kiko Martinez, I even remember the seat I was sitting in. Scott Quigg was one of my idols growing up, he’s been in many fantastic fights. This is a dream come true.”
Carroll, who lost a world title fight in 2019 against Tevin Farmer, feels he’s at a spot now where he can have a better chance to win if he gets another title shot.
“I just feel like this is my time. I’m 27, almost 28, I’m getting my power. I’m feeling really good in there. I wasn’t gassed or tired. I was picking quality shots. Tonight I showed quality.”
Quigg was quite candid in his post-fight interview, and while he’s not making a decision right now, the idea that he might be facing retirement from boxing is clearly there.
“I’m a realist. There’s no rash decisions or anything,” he said. “This was a must-win fight, and I believe if I was at my best, I would’ve won this. In my day, I believe he wouldn’t have lived with me. But on this performance, and how I felt, I don’t know what’s left. I gave it everything.
“I couldn’t have achieved any more [in my career]. I’ve given everything. I’ve cut no corners, I’ve given 150 percent. I couldn’t have achieved any more. I’ve been world champion, I’ve had a great career, sold out arenas. If this is it, then thank you for everyone who’s supported me throughout my career.”