Jason Quigley would love a domestic dust-up at Croke Park as part of Katie Taylor’s farewell card.
Should the legendary Taylor get her long-coveted retirement dance at Croke Park later this year, Quigley (20-3, 14KOs) is willing to return to action – if the fight is right.
The Donegal puncher believes that a bout with Luke Keeler or Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan could be made at GAA headquarters if the iconic Jones Road arena gets the green light to host Taylor.
“I have the book closed, but for the likes of a Katie Taylor card at Croke Park – it would be a history-making night – and to be a part of that would be something special,” Quigley said.
“To close out the career on a card like that would be extra special. I would love to do it against the likes of a ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan or a Luke Keeler, an all-Irish clash.”
“People in Ireland would want that and would come out to support it. Imagine the Donegal crowd that would come to back me in Croke Park – the same way they support the GAA team in Croke Park. It would be the same for ‘Spike’ and Cork or Luke and Dublin. It would be a great addition to the card too.”
The Ballybofey man last fought in June 2023 when pushing Edgar Berlanga for 12 rounds at Madison Square Garden.
In 2021, Quigley challenged Demetrius Andrade for the WBO world middleweight title and the 2013 World silver and European Championships gold medallist held the NABO and NABF middleweight titles as a professional.
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He said: “I’m more than happy as long as it makes financial sense. I wouldn’t come back just to be a part of the card and ‘I don’t care if I get paid’. If I get well looked after, I’m happy to come back. Luke or ‘Spike’: Let’s get it on.”
Of late, Quigley has been working as a manager and promoter, including hosting successful shows in Letterkenny and Stranorlar.
However, a Croke Park dance would certainly appeal to lure him back through the ropes as a fighter.
Quigley said: “I’m really enjoying my life as a manager and a promoter, but when an opportunity like this comes along, I’m definitely interested and would definitely take it – as long as everything lines up together and makes sense.”
“If it happens, fantastic, but if not I’ll keep moving with this life, creating champions and putting on big shows.”
There has been some talk between some of the parties and it is known that Keeler (19-3-1, 7KOs) is keen. He, too, lost to Andrade for the WBO world middleweight strap, in his case in Miami in 2020.
Keeler last fought in 2024 while O’Sullivan (32-6, 21KOs) defeated Mateusz Pawlowski in Dublin in October. The Cork man has fought the likes of Erislandy Lara, Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank Jr and David Lemieux in his career.
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn was in Dublin recently for talks with Croke Park bosses. The meeting was said to have been ‘positive’, but Hearn said there was “work to be done.”
A date of September 5 is being mooted for a bumper show to be headlined by Taylor with former world champ Holly Holm among those rumoured as possible opponents for the Bray woman.
Charlie McConalogue, the Donegal TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, was asked this week about government funding to assist with a Taylor card at Croke Park.
He said: “First of all we would have to receive a proposal from her promoters, and secondly we would have to assess it in line with our national event strategy as to whether it merits the investment of public funds and taxpayers’ money.”