There might have been a growing feeling – justifiably – by Jason Quigley fans late in the Donegal hero’s bid for the burly, monstrous punching Edgar Berlanga’s WBO NABO super middleweight title at Madison Square Garden last Saturday night that things may turn out well after all.
A huge underdog going into the crossroads fight against a world-ranked 26-year-old, who’d won his first 16 prize fights by knockouts, Quigley, who’s 32, would hold his own after suffering a couple of early knockdowns.
The first came just before the bell in the third round when Berlanga connected with a left hand. Quigley was up in good time and the bell would sound before any explosive action ensued.
The second knock down was a missed call by referee Harvey Dock, one of the best young officials in New York. Quigley slipped while eluding a Berlanga assault but still got the count. At any rate, almost halfway through the scrap, the anticipated wipeout of the Irish challenge had not transpired.
It would be Berlanga’s last big action on his ring return -- after a one-year lay-off -- until the last round at least. This after he'd won all opening five rounds on all three judges’ cards.
Even before the first two knockdowns, Quigley, trained by former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, had shown shades of Lee’s measured fighting style as he countered his powerful opponent. There was the wide stance and high guard, as well as the quick jabs and the sneaky rights, which for the southpaw Lee had carried all the power.
Quigley, at 6-feet-1, the same height as Berlanga, but leaner and a tad more skillful, would sweep the next four rounds on the official cards.
Edgar Berlanga is announced the winner at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night against Jason Quigley. [Inpho/Matchroom Boxing/Ed Mulholland]
He did it by boxing smartly, mostly on the backfoot and by picking his punches. There was the big right in the sixth round – clearly Quigley’s most dramatic punch of the night.
There’d be a right-left combination early in the seventh round, followed later by a left hook that rocked Berlanga. Quigley would punctuate a big stanza with another right as his athleticism continued to trump Berlanga’s power and diminished inactivity.
More of the same in the eighth and ninth rounds. An amateur standout who’d won a gold medal at the European Championships and silver at the world championships, the Donegal man continued to outfox his man. The long silence of the 5,600-capacity pro-Berlanga crowd from the fifth round would validate that.
Berlanga would do little in the 10th round, too, but would sweep all three judges’ cards -- only for him to lose the 11th stanza.
They went into the 12th and final round with Quigley having won five rounds and Berlanga awarded six on the official cards.
Not taking chances, Berlanga’s corner ordered their man to take out Quigley in the final round.
The Puerto Rican came out smoking. He’d score two knock downs to seal a 10-7 round and secure a victory padded by his two previous knockdowns.
It was a tremendous effort for Quigley, whose ledger dropped to 20-3 [14 KOs].
“I showed up and gave it my all,” Quigley told his fans. “What an incredible night at Madison Square Garden. Thank you everybody for the brilliant support over the last few weeks, for all those that travelled and come out to support, and to my amazing team! Thank you to Eddie Hearn Matchroom Boxing DAZN for this opportunity."
Berlanga, who improved to 21-0 with 16 KOs, would leave Madison Square Garden knowing that he’d been in a fight despite the 116-108 [twice] and 118-106 scores in his favor.
Said the WBO #4, IBF #4 and WBA #6 super middleweight title contender: "I give my fight a ‘C’. Everyone who fights with me trains to survive. They know I have a hammer, but hats off to the team and to Quigley. I'm thankful for the win. I want to fight the best,” he said.
