SCOTT QUIGG is hoping to secure a rematch with domestic rival Carl Frampton – and is confident that he will become world champion before the all British battle.
The Bury boxer is in a position to face the winner out of Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title next year and Quigg believes he can win that belt before locking horns with his Belfast rival.
Quigg is eager for a shot at revenge over the only man to have beaten him, in their super-bantamweight world title unification clash in Manchester clash last year, which Frampton won by spilt decision.
“I’m always going to want the rematch with Frampton, I would always love that fight again but at the end of the day I want to go and become world champion, so when I become world champion that fight will happen,” he said.
“From the first fight, my tactics were wrong on the night and I should have put the pressure on early. As soon as I put the pressure on the fight would have been mine, but it was too little too late.”
Both men now compete at featherweight, with Frampton leaving friend and trainer Shane McGuigan and relocating to Manchester earlier this year to train with Jamie Moore. He returned to the ring in Belfast a couple of weeks ago, defeating Horacio Garcia on points.
Quigg was ringside overlooking Frampton and he believes it wasn’t Frampton’s “best performance by far” due to the change of team and 10 months out of boxing.
“He fought a fringe world class fighter, Garcia was very predictable but what he did bring was a very energetic work rate and a world class chin. But I think Frampton made very hard work of it,” Quigg said.
“If he stuck to his boxing he could have had an easier night but if you consider that he’s had a 10-month layoff and a completely new change of team he got the job done and he now moves on.”
In a BoxNation podcast promoter Frank Warren said he would open the doors for Quigg to join his stable and compete with his fellow featherweights Josh Warrington, Carl Frampton and Lee Selby.
Quigg’s response was that he feels satisfied with Eddie Hearn’s role as a promoter as he has set him up for a chance to become two-time world champion next year.
“I’m happy where I am, Matchroom do the job for me, I have just put myself in line for the winner of Abner Mares and Santa Cruz for the world title, it is what it is and I’m happy where I am,” he said.