THIS week, it feels like business for Jason Quigley in Sin City.
The Ballybofey man goes up against Shane Mosley Jr for the NABO middleweight title on Saturday night.
When he steps through the ropes of the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Quigley will be on the stage for the 20th time as a professional.
Quigley won the NABF middleweight strap in 2017, but suffered a horror hand injury on the way to what ought to have been a breakout win over Glen Tapia at Fantasy Springs.
Since then, Quigley changed location, moving first to Sheffield to work under Dominic Ingle and now settled back home, where he has been guided by former world champion Andy Lee.
The recently-turned 30-year-old has been to the title nights before and this week on the Las Vegas Strip certainly feels different.
“I’m more focussed on the actual fight now,” he says.
“It has been a very interesting time to look at all of that. As boxers, we look to get these moments and these opportunities. I’ve been here before, like when I fought Tapia and I had a couple of defences….I’ve been to this type of a stage before.
“When I turned professional in America, I fought on the under cards of world title fights, had the media work outs, the press conferences and all of that so it doesn’t feel as big a deal now.
“I have a lot more tunnel vision on the fight. It’s more business like. I’ve won a belt, I’ve defended it.”
Quigley recently re-entered the WBC world rankings at number 14 and the meaning of this weekend’s bout, which will go out worldwide on DAZN, is not lost on the former European Elite champion.
The bout pits two Golden Boy Promotions fighters into a collision course.
For Quigley, this one ends a long period of inactivity since his win over Fernando Marin in January, 2020.
Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz is a big believer in Quigley and a few months ago talked of how ‘there is so much potential out there’ for the Donegal ace.
Quigley says: “We both know where this fight can lead.
“There is no question in my mind that i’ll get in there and take care of business. This is my career now. It has hit me the stage that I’m at. I know what it means to get in and win this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned and did everything possible.”
Since linking up with Lee, Quigley has had stopped wins over Abraham Cordero and Marin, both in Costa Mesa, California.
The last year-and-a-bit has seen Quigley and Lee focus even more on the little details.
“There is a new and improved version,” Quigley notes.
“People look at lockdown as a negative, but it gave me and Andy time to work together. We might only have two fights together, but we have had a lot of time to work together and get to know each other, inside and outside of boxing.
“We have been working on a lot of things: mindset, game plan, techniques.
“Andy has been a massive positive in my life. Boxing is a massive part of my life. Andy has come on board and I think the connection there, he knows the position I’ve been in. He can guide me through that. With Andy, it’s very simple, direct and to the point.
“There is no bullshit. I love just straight out honest and knowing were you stand. ‘Let’s crack on’. Everything has really come on.
“It’s been very exciting. Every time I get into the gym, I’m learning something new. I’m trying to perfect something and continuously trying to improve.
“I’m more aware when I’m in the ring, instead of letting my emotions take over. Being that wee bit more aware and present in the fight, in the round, it’s really brought me on massively.”
They mean business.
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