Scott Quigg Simply Has To Impress To Gain On Frampton

By Boxing News - 04/14/2014 - Comments

By Diarmuid Sherry: In the modern era of boxing, for observers to choose who the best boxer between two rivals is, it seems that instead of a good old-fashioned fight to decide who is the more superior fighter, but that the respective records of the two boxers are closely examined instead. The no fight of Mayweather-Pacquiao is the obvious example, but on the smaller British scale, smaller-weight class category is the prospect, or rather lack of a prospect of a dust-up between Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton.

This match-up has been discussed for years and has been on many fight fans wish lists of top matches that are wanted, however both camps are seemingly determined on reaching the top by all means necessary, except through each other. The two men have even been both promoted by the same company in Eddie Hearns’ Matchroom Promotions, although tellingly not at the same time.

Therefore, boxing observers have to debate who has progressed the most within their careers, and currently, in many peoples opinion, it is Frampton who has taken the big lead over Quigg, especially after his big win over the experienced Mexican, Hugo Cazares a fortnight ago, and the spine-tingling atmosphere that was created within Belfast’s Odyssey Arena.

Asides from Cazares, Frampton has knockout wins against the current IBF holder, Kiko Martinez, former IBF champion Steve Molitor, and decent contenders in Raul Hirales and Jeremy Parodi in his 18 fight record. More tellingly however that Frampton is big news at the moment. His fights regularly sell out within a couple of hours at the 9,000 Odyssey Arena, and talk is that Frampton may have to fight at the 20,000 Ravenhill Stadium instead from now on. Frampton also gets regular media exposure, helped perhaps by his alliance with Barry McGuigan, and also Guillermo Rigondeaux and Leo Santa Cruz, the two best Super Bantamweights, have both called out Frampton.

On the other hand, although Scott Quigg holds the WBA ‘Regular’ Super Bantamweight strap, his record doesn’t look so tough in comparison. Firstly, Quigg was given a vacant ‘title’ by the WBA after Guillermo Rigondeaux was upgraded to ‘Super’ champion by the WBA, for which then he contentiously drew against unknown but skilled Cuban, Yoandris Salinas. Quigg has 11 more fights than Frampton, but asides from Salinas, only a win against Rendall Munroe is of real significance. Victories over Diego Silva, William Prado and Jason Booth doesn’t really the cut the mustard. Therefore, by this reasoning, Quigg must impress on his next title defence.

This Saturday is Scott Quigg’s first time in headlining a real big show, at Manchester’s Phones 4 U Arena, but his plans have already have been hit by an opponent change. Original opponent Nehomar Cermano has been replace by the tall South African, Tshifhiwa Munyai. Munyai may have only a weeks’ notice, but has been talked about already as a tougher opponent than Cermano, who was mandated upon Quigg by the WBA.

Munyai is known within British boxing circles for beating Martin Power and Lee Haskins for the Commonwealth Bantamweight Belt some years ago, and has developed a good run at 122lbs in his home country of South Africa. However, for Quigg to seriously impress, then only a stoppage prior to 6 rounds is needed.

Although Munyai is tall, rangy and awkward, the African is made for Quigg’s come-forward pressure, body punching style. Quigg also has the power to upset the tough Munyai, as proven by his early stoppages recently of Silva, Prado and Munroe, although the challenger has yet to be stopped in his 2 defeats.

Considering the circumstances, and the opponent in question then it is vitally important that Quigg wins well, so he can start his own big train ride to stardom, while halting the ride of his current domestic rival in Frampton. After this weekend, presuming a win for Quigg, he simply has to step up the quality of his opponents from now on, opponents who are worthy of being called world-title challengers, even within todays monopoly of various world titles.



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