Jason Quigley was given a rousing welcome back home last night at an official homecoming function for the NABF middleweight champion at the Finn Valley Centre.
Quigley won his first pro title in March with a unanimous decision win over Glen Tapia, despite having to box eight rounds with a broken right hand – and last night he was welcomed back in style.
“This is back to where it all started,” Quigley said. “It was here, in the Finn Valley Centre, down below there in a wee cubbyhole where me and my father started off boxing in the Finn Valley Boxing Club.”
Patsy McGonagle, the Chairman of Finn Valley AC, and a close ally of Quigley, acted as MC for the night.
President of the Donegal Boxing Board, Peter O’Donnell, former European and British super-lightweight Paul McCloskey, 1972 Olympian Charlie Nash, former IBF cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports Boxing pundit Glenn McCrory and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development Joe McHugh were all at the top table and spoke on the night.
Jason’s family, close friends and a big crowd of supporters and celebrities were out in force to welcome home the new NABF middleweight champion.
Joe Boland of North West News Pix was on hand to capture the moments …