19
Jan
2021
Top Rank
Scott Quigg has come out fighting following the criticism he received for missing weight against Oscar Valdez.
Despite producing a brave and gutsy display in L.A, the Mancunian was on the receiving end of unanimous points decision.
A fractured foot sustained in camp sabotaged his ambition to become a two-weight world champion and Quigg revealed he tried everything possible to make his dreams a reality.
“I gave it everything I could on the night, I was happy that the fans enjoyed it and put up a good fight but obviously I’m still gutted I didn’t win the fight,” he exclusively told World Boxing News.
”My first six weeks couldn’t have gone any better and then four weeks before the fight I fractured my foot and it’s as simple as that, I could have pulled out the fight but I didn’t want to because I thought I could make the weight.
“On the Thursday, if you’d have seen what I had done to try and make the weight then you would have known I tried my best, but the main thing is I apologised for not making the weight.
“I hope the performance and fight I put on showed the people how badly I wanted it.”
Leaving the ring bruised and battered, Quigg was praised for his efforts, though featherweight rivals such as Carl Frampton poked fun at the 29-year-old weighing in at 128.8lbs.
Responding to those taunts, he said: “He’s (Frampton) missed weight before. People don’t know the circumstances, but I just think they’re a bunch of muppets – it’s as simple as that.
“People are going to say something because it’s at a high level and looks unprofessional but training for a fight with a fractured foot four week before the fight isn’t easy. I came up short, but I’ll be back a lot stronger.
“My stocks went up even in defeat, it’s about getting out again in August, September time and then getting a big fight at the end of the year again. I’ll speak with Eddie after the Joshua fight and go through a plan.”
Asked if he is still chasing a rematch with Frampton, Quigg concluded: “I’m not really a****, if it happens it happens.
“He beat me, and I want to avenge that lost but if it doesn’t then it’s not because of me not wanting it. I aim to become a world champion again and if that happens then I’m sure it could happen.”
Joe Hewlett is lead writer for World Boxing News. Follow Joe on Twitter @Hewlett95