Scott Quigg hangs up his gloves, as the towel comes in on a devoted career

Scott Quigg has announced his retirement from boxing after suffering the third defeat of his career to Jono Carroll. Quigg was dominated for 11 rounds inside the Manchester Arena, as the Dubliner peppered the former world champion until trainer Joe Gallagher threw in the towel.

Carroll was quicker to the punch, cleverer in the exchanges and fresher throughout the contest as the underdog punished the former bantamweight world champion from the southpaw stance.

Quigg was never really in the fight from the opening bell, with his reflexes and movement representing the shadow of the man who held a version of the junior featherweight world title between 2013-16.

In truth, the fight should have been stopped sooner than the penultimate round. Quigg’s corner of Joe Gallagher and Anthony Crolla – as well as all four Smith brothers in close proximity – looked hesitant to call the fight off early, despite Quigg’s failings to display a route towards victory in the contest.

Perhaps, Carroll’s reputation of being feather-fisted delayed the call from Quigg’s corner, despite “King Kong” looking like a bruising and fairly heavy-handed 130-pounder throughout Saturday night.

The second half of the fight proved uncomfortable viewing, as the Irish underdog slowly, and painfully brought the curtain down on the 31-year-old’s career.

”As soon as I got in there, it didn’t feel like it was there,” Quigg stated post-fight. Quigg’s honest appraisal of his shortcomings was a breath of fresh air in a sport where a failure to self-analyse can lead to disastrous consequences.

”I was just chasing it. I’m a realist, and I don’t kid anyone, this was a must-win fight. At my peak, I would have won tonight. In my day, he wouldn’t have lived with me,” he continued, struggling to hold back the emotions of a humbling evening in front of home support in Manchester.

”On this performance, I don’t know what’s left. I gave it everything, and I want to support everyone who has come out to support me. I couldn’t have achieved any more. I’ve been a world champion and had a great career. And if this is it, thank you, everyone.”

After alluding to retirement in the ring, Quigg confirmed this decision on Instagram on Sunday, thanking Eddie Hearn amongst others:

Over thirteen years as a professional, Quigg has become synonymous to boxing devotion. A proud “gym rat,” the Briton has dedicated his life to a career in the fight game, putting boxing before anything else in a quest for glory.

After spending time at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym over the past couple of years, a return home to train with Joe Gallagher signalled a full circle in his career. “He’s the only guy who works harder than Pacquiao,” Roach claimed of Quigg in the run-up to his defeat to Oscar Valdez, with Quigg’s personality the antithesis of his Hollywood surroundings over those three years. There is no glitz a glamour to Quigg – just a guy who wants to fight.

Carroll paid tribute to Quigg in the ring following a breakout victory in his career. “Scott was one of my idols growing up, but this is my time, tonight I showed my quality,” he said, putting all pre-fight animosity to bed.

In the end, Quigg was saved from himself as the 40th fight of his career proved one too many. It’s been a career that he has, rightly so, taken great pride in, despite coming up short in his biggest of tests.

Time and time again, Quigg has proved himself to be not only an honest, dedicated professional but, more importantly to him, a born fighter.