Johnny Quigley talks about back-to-back losses taking him deep into depression
Former elite amateur star and IBF European super-featherweight title contender Johnny Quigley (14-2) will put a troubled year behind him when he climbs into the ring at Liverpool’s Olympia on April 19.
The talented super-featherweight has not fought since March 2018 having struggled with personal problems but is relishing the prospect of fighting in front of home fans at the next #MTKFightNight – live on iFL TV.
The 28-year-old Liverpudlian said: “To be honest, for the past year I’ve been in a bad place both physically and mentally. I can only call it depression.
“As a fighter, you get caught with a good shot and you don’t acknowledge it or let anyone see it hurt you. That’s the mentality that’s been in me since I started boxing 22 years ago so I kind of disappeared off the map.
“My kids were my saving grace during those dark times. It’s easy to talk about it now because I’m no longer there but I blew up in weight. I felt like a failure and a let-down.
“It’s all behind me now. I’m in a really good place, training hard and living the life I have to live in order to go to the places I want to go.
“Liverpool is the best place to fight. The fans know and appreciate their boxing and nothing beats the buzz of a good fight night in Liverpool!”
Quigley, who boasted a sensational amateur record of 114-6 and earned England captaincy and Commonwealth Youth Games gold, is joined on a stellar bill by former gym-mate Jazza Dickens, who faces Nasibu Ramadhan in a Commonwealth title final eliminator.
Also on the card are former world title challenger Brian Rose, history-making Olympian Tasha Jonas, unbeaten heavyweight Alex Dickinson, rising Sheffield star Raza Hamza, world-ranked middleweight JJ Metcalf and more.