Jason Quigley.
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
JASON Quigley will take on Indian Vijender Singh in a round of 32 contest at the IABA World Championships on Saturday, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Vijender took victory in his preliminary round bout against Hampus Henriksson of Sweden earlier today, the Indian taking a unanimous 3-0 decision from the judges.
While Quigley has a world medal in his sights, Vijender comes with a couple of warning cards as he was a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2009 World Championships in Milan.
He was India’s first Olympic medalist in boxing and he was also at the cetre of a drugs investigation earlier this year.
The Indian sports ministry directed the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to carry out dope tests on star boxer Singh, who has been accused of consuming heroin by Punjab Police.
Finn Valley middleweight Quigley is unbeaten in his last 28 competitive bouts, in a run stretching back to early 2012.
“I want to keep it going and keep things going the way they’re going but I’m not going to let it pressure me or get in the way of anything,” said the 22-year old Ballybofey man.
“I’m just going to focus on my next fights and not let it play too much on my mind.”
He’s well aware that this will be a big step up from anything he’s faced before – but well hardened to the continent’s tussles, he has set his aims high.
He said: “Of course, I’m going there to become a world champion,” he said. “I wouldn’t be going out there any other way, to win a fight or two.
“I’m going out there to win the gold medal, without a doubt, and to be very focused and very determined in my own game.”
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