Friday 3 February 2017 13:59, UK
In Jason Quigley's latest diary entry, the Irish middleweight talks about ending last year with a bang and looks ahead to his first bill-topping fight next month...
My last fight was absolutely perfect. Nobody thought it was going to be over in the first round, but that's boxing. This is what the sport is all about, getting through these tough stages, and making it as easy as possible. For me, blowing him out in one round was brilliant, I came out of it fresh. I was straight back in the gym and ready to go again.
At the top of the bill, it was a bad way for Bernard Hopkins to go out in his final fight, but he's had a sensational career. I don't think people are going to look back at that fight as his defining moment.
It's just been announced that I'm the main event fight against Glen Tapia for the NABF middleweight championship in California next month. It's a proud moment and I'm delighted to be the main event.
Tapia has been in there with a few great fighters, he's got a lot of experience, but he has come up short every time, and he's come up short for a reason. I know how capable I am and Glen Tapia is going to face someone he has not faced before in me on March 23.
There is only one goal on my mind and that's becoming the best out there and I'm not going to let no man stop me.
I'm hungry, I'm determined. There is only one goal on my mind and that's becoming the best out there and I'm not going to let no man stop me.
All these guys that are fighting for belts, I will look at them all, because I know it's a possibility that I will get into the ring with some of them. I'm keeping an eye on them, but not putting all my efforts into watching them. I make sure that I'm 100 per cent mentally and physically prepared to perfect my game. I let everybody else worry about me.
Danny Jacobs is definitely going to give Gennady Golovkin problems and some things that he has not seen or faced before during his professional career. It's going to be a good fight. I do expect 'GGG' to come out on top in the later rounds, but I think Jacobs will give him problems early on. If Jacobs can hit Golovkin and hurt him, keep him off, then it's very possible that he could gain a victory. But I see 'GGG' with a late stoppage.
I watched Carl Frampton's fight with Leo Santa Cruz last weekend. Frampton put on another great performance against Santa Cruz. In my eyes, Santa Cruz has always been a fighter that I have idolised a bit, because of his ruthless, relentless style. For Carl to beat him firstly, then give him such a great fight in the rematch was unbelievable. He did himself proud and will come back stronger.
