Jason Quigley has revealed how some sound advice from Anthony Joshua helped make up his mind to turn professional.
Quigley, who is now 13-0 as a pro following the capture of his first title, the NABF middleweight belt which he won with a unanimous decision win over Glen Tapia at Fantasy Springs last month.
The Ballybofey man turned professional in 2014, following a stellar 2013 that included the winning of Irish and European senior titles and a World Championship silver medal.
Joshua last week KO’d 41-year-old veteran Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in the 11th round of a pulsating heavyweight clash to add the WBA title to the IBF belt.
Joshua, who has won all 19 of his pro contests by KO, was an Olympic Gold medallist at London 2012.
Some felt that Quigley should have stuck around in the Irish vest to attempt an Olympics – but the Finn Valley ABC middleweight signed on the dotted line with Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles.
“I’m super proud for Anthony, because he was there for me when I wanted to turn professional,” Quigley said of Joshua.
“I was involved with Sky Sports, I got his number, and was talking to him about whether I should stay amateur for the Olympics, or turn professional. He gave me advice on what he thought I should do, because he went to the Olympics and turned pro afterwards.
“He told me if turning professional will excite me, you go for it. I listened, obviously, I took his advice, and I moved on my career to where I am now.
“Joshua is a great lad, very supportive, always looking to give you help and positive feedback. He’s an absolute gentleman.”
Quigley is in Las Vegas for Saturday night’s eagerly anticipated tussle between Mexican stars Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez at The T-Mobile Arena on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
The Golden Boy prospect will be holding a ‘meet and greet’ with boxing fans in Vegas and is now on the way to recovery after having pins removed following surgery on a hand injury sustained in the second round of his bout with Tapia.
Quigley expects to be back in the ring in the autumn.
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