Donegal boxing star Jason Quigley brushed aside a cut head to win his opening fight at the World Boxing Championships in Almathy, Kazakhstan today.
Jason is through to last 16 in World Championships.
The Ballybofey middleweight champion defeated Beijing bronze medallist Vijender Singh.
It’s the 22-year-old’s first venture into world level competition.
The experienced Indian, a former Asian champion, cut Quigley in a head clash forcing the fight to be stopped for a short time and the Donegal boxer to be examined by the ringside doctor.
“After I felt the doctor hitting the side of the head I knew I was grand because I knew that it wasn’t going to impair my vision or give any reason for the referee to stop it,” Quigley told the Irish Times.
But Quigley, who earned the European title earlier this year, wasn’t distracted from the early episode and when passed fit to continue went on to take the bout on a split decision.
Vijender was warned in the final round for a low blow that put Quigley down.
“Brilliant,” said Quigley immediately after the bout. “I knew getting in there today that I was in with a Beijing Olympian.
“I knew that I was up against it. He had a win under his belt against the Swedish lad (Hampus Henriksson). I got in there, got the rust off myself.
“As everybody knows, I’m an active boxer and I never take anyone for granted. I went in and gave it a rattle. Every fight is a final.”
The win sends Quigley into a last 16, where he faces Scotland’s Aston Brown on Monday.
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