Middleweight up-and-comer Jason Quigley will take on battle-tested former world title challenger Freddy Hernandez on Oct. 18 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, Golden Boy Promotions announced Friday.
The scheduled 10-round fight will headline a Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN card (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET) that will also include Eddie Gomez (21-3, 12 KOs), 26, of Bronx, New York, taking on Shoki Sakai (23-8-2, 13 KOs), 27, of Japan, in the eight-round co-feature.
Quigley (14-0, 11 KOs), 27, an Ireland native fighting out of Los Angeles, will be in his second fight since a year layoff because of a badly injured hand. Quigley, who will defend his regional title, will also be in his second fight with trainer Dominic Ingle, who is best known for training former welterweight world titlist Kell Brook and former junior middleweight world titleholder Liam Smith.
“I’m excited to get back to business,” Quigley said. “What better setting than Fantasy Springs to headline a Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN card? It’s where I won this belt in the first-ever Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN. This is my belt now, and I’m not letting anyone take it away. This belt has a place in my home. It’s got a spot in the cabinet. No one is coming into my house to take my belt.”
Hernandez (34-9, 22 KOs), 39, of Mexico, has faced a who’s who of top fighters, including Demetrius Andrade, Erislandy Lara and Andre Berto. Hernandez defeated popular Alfredo Angulo by unanimous decision in August 2016, but lost his next fight by decision to Wale Omotoso in December. He will be fighting for the first time since.
“This is going to be a great fight. Quigley is a strong fighter and is training to win, as will I,” Hernandez said. “At this place in my career, I know I have very little time left to leave an impression and to take career risks, but the public will not be disappointed with my performance. I’m going to give it all that I have.”
Quigley has been one of Golden Boy’s top prospects and could make a big move in 2019 but needs this win first.
“Jason Quigley is a rising contender in the middleweight rankings, which has always been a glamour division in boxing,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya said. “He’s had a minor setback to due his injury, but he’s ready to come back and challenge all contenders and champions at 160 pounds.”
Junior lightweight Rommel Caballero (2-0-1, 1 KO), 19, of Coachella, California, will open the telecast in a six-round bout against Hugo Padron (3-2, 3 KOs), 32, of Mexico.