BY CHRIS MCNULTY
JASON Quigley is set for a professional debut against Howard Reece on Saturday night in the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Quigley, snapped up this year by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, will take on Reece, a 26-year-old Irish American, who hails from Belleview in Florida and who has eight pro fights to his name.
Reece has won two and lost six of those contests, with his last fight seeing him lose against debutant Idel Torriente in the Casino Miami on June 7th by way of a second round knockout.
Torriente landed a huge straight left, sending Reece to the canvas and, while he momentarily recovered, Torriente landed the decisive blow, a powerful left hook that resulted in referee Samuel Burgos stopping the contest.
In April, Reece lost to the unbeaten David Grayton in Washington having beaten Burthin Rousseau in Florida in March, claiming a majority decision. His first win had come in his second fight last October, a second round knockout of Viktor Kulakovski in Tampa.
Quigley and Reece will go head-to-head in a middleweight four rounder on the undercard of the junior middleweight contest between Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara.
Finn Valley ace Quigley has been back in America since last month having been out in a training camp in Los Angeles in March. That marked his return to action after he took a break following a marathon 2013 that saw Irish and European senior title wins followed by a World silver medal in October.
Having initially gone and met up with Manny Robles, who had been a mentor while he boxed in the WSB for the LA Matadors, Quigley began talks with De La Hoya and a five-year contract was inked by the Ballybofey man.
“I just have to keep winning fights,” 23-year-old Quigley said.
“I have time to learn the professional game and don’t need to be taking fights that are too risky. It’s a different game to amateur, but I’m ready for it.”
Quigley has an open workout at the MGM Grand on Wednesday and will take part in a press conference on Thursday night ahead of Friday’s weigh-in.
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