Scott Quigg (32-1-2, 24 KO’s) returned from the longest lay off of his career to claim the WBA International featherweight title with a ninth round victory over Jose Cayetano (20-5, 9KO’s).
Quigg looked physically strong in his new weight class and clearly enjoyed being back in the thick of the action as he looks to rebuild following his defeat to Carl Frampton in February.
Cayetano, 126lbs, will have been eager to test the sturdiness of Quigg’s repaired jaw (broken during the Frampton fight) during the early going but found the man from Bury’s defence difficult to penetrate cleanly and regularly.
Once any understandable nerves had left his system, Quigg, 125 1/2lbs, steadily ratcheted up the intensity and pressure. Quigg was quite content to bully Cayetano to the ropes, dip his knees and trade hooks.
He landed hard and he landed often but the visitor was made of stern stuff and soaked everything up until a right hand flattened him at 1.23 of the ninth.
After 10 months out of the ring, Quigg will be raring to go and will be keen to be back int he world title mix before too long.