Quigg aims to use title defence as prompt for Frampton clash
WBA super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg intends to use his fifth title defence against Hidenori Otake as a springboard to fight Belfast’s IBF titleholder Carl Frampton.
The 26-year-old’s bout with the Japanese champion will feature on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly’s rematch with Tony Bellew at the Echo Arena, Liverpool in November.
Veteran Otake will be fighting outside his home country for the first time, and while Quigg expects the 33-year-old to offer a stern test, he remains focused on an all-British showdown. “Otake represents the toughest fight of my career and I’m working hard to put in a scintillating performance,” said Quigg. “There are obstacles but it [the clash with Frampton] is a fight that must happen, we both deserve it.”
Croatian boxer Vido Loncar, meanwhile, has been banned from the ring for life by the International Boxing Association for assaulting Polish referee Maciej Dziurgot during Monday’s light-heavyweight division at the European Youth Championships in Zagreb.