Jason Quigley reacts to heart-breaking first defeat

Jason Quigley [16(12)-1(1)] admits the decision to pull him out before the final round on Thursday night was the right call.

Coach Dominic Ingle ended what was becoming an increasingly prolonged beatdown from Caribbean brawler Tureano Johnson following the ninth round at the Fantasy Springs Casino.

The decision rubber-stamped a first career loss for Quigley, by stoppage, with the Donegal middleweight having to hand his WBC-NABF rankings title over to the veteran.

‘Saved from himself’ is a fairly apt description, with Quigley having ‘proved’ his heart and guts from the third round onwards.

There was a decent start made from the Ballybofey man in the Golden Boy Promotions headliner but he, as he would note afterwards, could just not keep the relentless Johnson off him.

Borderline unresponsive in the corner at the break after the ninth, Quigley is thankful for his team.

The 28-year-old said that “I think everybody knows me, I’ve never taken the easy way out.”

“There was many a stage in the fight where if I didn’t want it I could have taken the easy way out.”

“I don’t think I could have won the fight in the last round unless I knocked him out – and of course there is always a chance you can knock him out.”

“But you weigh up the options and that’s the benefits of having a good cornerman like Dominic and also the referee for looking after me in the fight and not letting my heart get the better of me. I could have went out and possibly got hurt.”

“I hurt a little bit in the heart, more than anything. It’s a tough loss to come off, but at the end of the day this is sport and there is always going to be ups and downs in sport.”

Quigley, as mentioned, began well enough but failed to put a dent on the bull-rushing Bahamanian.

While he has elite amateur experience, the European gold and World silver medallist was overwhelmed by 35-year-old Johnson.

“The gameplan was to keep him off,” he reflected ruefully.

“He likes to get inside and let his shots go. To be honest, I just couldn’t keep him off. I let him get inside and let his shots go.” He was the type of person that didn’t care if he got hit. It’s difficult to keep a boxer like that off. I just couldn’t fulfil my game plan and that’s the best way to explain it.”

“I have to take my hat off to Tureano Johnson, he put in a good performance, fought really well and was truly a deserved winner. I hope he goes on to fight for a world title and possibly win one.”

🇧🇸🔥@Tureano1984 defeats the unbeaten @jay_quigley by corner stoppage at the beginning of round 9! #QuigleyJohnson #GBxDAZN’s Thursday Night Fights pic.twitter.com/KIoVJC2hxc

— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) July 19, 2019

The autopsy has already began among onlookers but a hurting Quigley isn’t going to make any rash decisions.

The Ulsterman will reflect in due course and stressed that “honestly, I haven’t thought about my career or my next step. I went straight to the hospital [Thursday] night and got all the mandatory check ups and everything is good.”

“I am fit and healthy and I am with the people that matter me most. After a week or so I’ll sit back and weigh up the options and see what happens next.”

“I have to sit down with my team and have a think about things, see what’s the next move and what’s the next options.”

“I suppose I have to take a look at things myself to see if I am ready to go back and see if I am ready to believe am I ready to go be world champion again after a heavy loss like that.”

“I’m lucky to get paid to do this job that I love. It wasn’t the most joyful night, but it is what it is.”