Joshua vs Klitschko: Scott Quigg wins first fight alongside trainer Freddie Roach
Sunday 30 April 2017 02:31, UK
Scott Quigg moved closer to a world title fight after digging out a scrappy unanimous decision win over Viorel Simion in his first fight alongside legendary trainer Freddie Roach.
IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby could be next on the agenda for Quigg after scorecards of 117-111 (twice) and 115-113 favoured him after a bruising battle.
Wales' Selby, previously the only man to beat Simion, tweeted "easy work" as former world super-bantamweight champion Quigg closed in on victory.
Quigg immediately marched onto the front foot and engaged Simion in the type of toe-to-toe brawl that the visitor must have dreamt of. It wasn't apparent whether it was a game-plan Roach had ordered but, in the second round, Quigg continued showing a willingness to exchange punches at close quarters.
With both men refusing to budge an inch, Quigg landed a stinging overhand right before Simion scored with a similar punch. Just three rounds in, each man's face bore evidence of a difficult night's work already.
Quigg, seven years his opponent's junior, appeared to have more in his engine into the fourth and fifth rounds - Simion showed signs of slowing and was forced to occasionally step back to take a deep breath.
A left hook and a straight right from Quigg shook the Romanian, who proved his grit by stepping straight back into the pocket.
Quigg took his fair share of damage, even into the second half of the gruelling fight, but his hands were busier and more accurate in most exchanges.
Once Quigg established himself as the fitter and stronger fighter in the last few rounds, the result scarcely looked in doubt. Simion, to his credit, was never likely to quit but Quigg was able to out-work him until the final bell.
