The 28 year-old told WBN that his 2011 Twitter feud with former Contender star Ishe Smith was now a thing of the past and he is moving forward towards facing one of the middleweight title holders in the near future.
Asked whether he would entertain the prospect of facing a rejuvenated Smith, who has recently signed a three-fight deal with Prizefight Promotions, Quillin told World Boxing News: “Only if he goes and wins a big fight.
“I am not stepping down (a level) to fight a guy like Ishe Smith. I’m looking to fight champions or guys who have fought world champions. Who has Ishe fought? Only prospects and I’m past being a prospect. I’m a contender now.
“I don’t have a aproblem with Ishe. I saw him in Vegas and introduced myself. All he said was hello and the guy with him did a lot of talking. Then Ishe goes on the Internet and starts calling me out behind the scenes.”
Michigan-born Quillin is thought to be only one or two fights away from challenging the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez and is expected to return in the spring before an assault on a world title or title eliminator.
“Of course I want that world title this year, that’s what I’ve been fighting for my whole career,” explained Quillin.
“2012 is the year I’m going to win a world title. I don’t make fights – Golden Boy does, but I’m willing to fight any of the world champions,” he added.
Quillin’s last performance was stopping Scotsman Craig McEwan in what some people in boxing saw as a premature stoppage by referee Manolo Alcocer. The American was comfortably in front on the cards though and on his way to a victory anyway, winning every round.
The WBC have surprisingly only ranked Quillin at number 15 in their recently released rankings and the fighter will be looking at some of the top 10 ranked boxer’s for his next test.
The likes of Darren Barker (10), Billi Godoy (4) and Matthew Macklin (3) will surely be in New York-based Quillin’s sights for 2012 as the stylish 160lber continues his inevitable ride to a world title challenge.
