SOME THINGS haven’t changed for Jason Quigley since he relocated to California, almost three years ago now.
The Ballybofey man is preparing for his first title fight, as he gears up for a joust with Glen Tapia for the vacant NABF middleweight crown in March.
Unbeaten in 12 contests, Quigley is flying up the ladder and now calls Marina Del Rey ‘home’.
Quigley has settled well into life on America’s west coast and has recently been joined by some familiar faces for training.
[adrotate group=”46″]Former Irish amateur team-mates Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes have been training lately with Quigley.
Indeed, Quigley’s coach – Manny Robles – will be the chief in Conlan’s corner as the Belfast man kicks off his pro career with a bill-topping bout agianst Tim Ibarra at Madison Square Garden on St Patrick’s Day.
Barnes who, like Conlan, switched to the pro ranks in the wake of the controversial Olympic Games in Rio, has already fought in the paid ranks, claiming a bizarre win over Bulgarian Stefan Slavchev in his native Belfast. When Slavchef hoisted Barnes in the air, the bout was stopped and Barnes handed the win.
They’ve been joined by Jamie Conlan and Tyrone McKenna while John Conlan – Michael and Jamie’s father whom Quigley would also know from his amateur days – are also in Los Angeles.
Time was when weekend runs up Barnesmore were the norm. But they have trying climbs in California, too.
“We were up Mount Baldy on Saturday,” Quigley told the first episode of Donegal Sports Talk.
“We ran up there at 7 o’clock in the morning. It’s great to have the lads over.
“People think that I’m here in LA and the sun is shining and all of that, but we travel out ot the mountains. It’s all snow. You start out at 3,000 feet and end up at 8,000 feet above sea level.
“It’s a tough run. The lads thought the hills in Donegal were tight. Now out here they’re saying “Jesus this is tighter than Donegal!
“It’s good to have the lads out here. It mixes the craic with the training. Mick Conlan and Paddy Barnes, everyone knows the craic and banter with them. It’s great to have them out here and it’s great to be able to show them about.”
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsportstalk/donegal-sports-talk-podcast-episode-1
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