Renold Quinlan is out to prove he is the ‘Road Warrior’ of world boxing, by flying 12,000 miles to defend his world Super Middleweight title.
Aussie Quinlan takes on Chris Eubank Jnr in London’s Olympia in the first defence of his IBO world title – live and exclusively on ITV Box Office.
Quinlan won the title by sparking out former world champion Daniel Geale inside two rounds last year but instead of making a first defence Down Under, he has chosen to travel to the UK to take on Eubank Jnr.
He said: “Many people told me to fight at home against someone easier, but I’m different. I want challenges that seem impossible and being a long way from home against very good opposition is tough. Although I’m the champion I know many people have written me off which is what excites me. I’m very excited to be fighting in the UK. They are very passionate about their sport and I plan to put a on good show for them.
“My victory over Daniel Geale showed I am ready to become the best. He had only recently lost to boxing superstars Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto. Geale underestimated me and was looking to knock me over and start a big campaign internationality again. That was until he realised the power I have and I feel Eubank has made the same mistake.”
Quinlan is part Aborigine and part Fijian and insists he is immensely proud of his rich heritage – something which will give him strength in his eagerly-awaited battle against Eubank Jnr.
“My nan and pop raised me from about 18 months old and I have lived in Port Macquarie and Sydney.
“My Aboriginal heritage comes from my Dad. We are Dunghutti people from north east coast of New South Wales. My mother is Fijian so I have a strong cultural connection to my heritage. I will be taking this connection and all that it means to me, for my fight in the UK.”
Quinlan, who lists his boxing heroes, in no particular order, as Mike Tyson, Anthony Mundine, Roy Jones and Thomas Hearns, says he is a historian of the sport. “I love boxing so much and enjoy all the great fighters from the past and present.
“James DeGale v Badou Jack was a great fight at the weekend and it is great to see the Super Middleweight division hotting up. But you will all be talking about Renold Quinlan after I put a stop to Eubank.”
He has studied Eubank closely and says the Brighton boxer has never overcome anyone of the calibre of Geale.
“Eubank has a great record but he has never beaten anyone like Daniel Geal. That is a fact and the one time he was tested he was beaten by Billy Joe Saunders. I expect a tough fight but I fear no one and Eubank will understand this when we get inside the ring. Yeah I rate him, but he won’t beat me.
“I have no concerns about the travel involved and I’m very excited to be coming to the UK. My team has taken the necessary steps to ensure we arrive early enough and have the right recovery to adjust to the travel.
“The reason I have taken this fight is the same reason I fought Geale. I don’t want to have a fight just to build a record. I’m ready for the best. I’m here to beat Eubank then I want DeGale or Saunders – simple as that.”
