Declan Geraghty scores career-best win over Johnny Quigley to jump-start career

While all eyes were on Cardiff and the Joshua-Parker heavyweight unification, Declan Geraghty claimed the best win of his career tonight in Preston.

The Dublin super featherweight outpointed Liverpudlian Johnny Quigley over ten rounds at the Guild Hall in a battle of the stylish southpaws.

An exciting fight, Geraghty landed the more effective shots and came through both a point deduction and a torrid final round to take a notable, if under-the-radar, win.

27-year-old Geraghty rounded off a great night for the Irish as Alfredo Meli had scored a first-round knockout earlier in the night on the same card, while journeyman Casey Blair had put in a game four rounds – and Ryan Burnett, of course, had retained his WBA bantamweight belt over in Wales.

Geraghty made a sharp start, winging in some big shots but the issue of two southpaws facing off reared its head almost immediately, with a clash of craniums leaving Geraghty cut to the side of the eye and this gash was quickly opened into a stream

It was cagier in the second, with Quigley starting to establish himself as both looked to find a rhythm

Cutman Andy O’Neil did a phenomenal job with the Geraghty cut and the Dubliner began to establish his jab in the third round as Quigley’s unpredictable work continued to fly in in return.

The fourth then saw Geraghty step it up a gear, landing a wide range of eye-catching shots which continued into the fifth as the Irishman started to build a bulkhead.

A jumping left from Geraghty sent Quigley down in the sixth but it was ruled a push – before the Irishman had a point docked somewhat inexplicably for use of the head.

The seventh and eighth saw both fighters start to stay inside with Geraghty landing the better shots. Quigley, who seemed to be quite paunchy, hung in but was being outlanded by the sharper Irishman.

The pace slowed in the ninth, with Geraghty picking his shots well as Quigley marched forward and having good success in the closing thirty.

Geraghty began the tenth and final round well but was hurt badly going into the second half from an overhand left and was forced to get on his bike for the remainder, staying on his feet and seeing the bell.

Going the distance, the bout went to the referee’s card. 96-93 was read out and, after a tantalising delay, Geraghty was confirmed the rightful victor.

A second big win in nine months following his triumph over Michael Roberts in Scotland last Summer, Geraghty would call for big names in his post-fight interview, with the winners of Jono Carroll v Marco McCullough, Ronnie Clark v Zelfa Barrett 2, and Martin J Ward v James Tennyson all being proposed.

Geraghty moves to 17(4)-2(1) with the big win while Quigley drops to 14(3)-2(0).

Photo Credit: Ricardo Gugielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)