European title shot for ‘The Hurricane’
Danny Quartermaine…big title shot on home territory
MANCHESTER had Ricky “Hitman” Hatton – and the Midlands has Danny “Hurricane” Quartermaine, writes Matt Bozeat.
Hatton filled the Manchester Arena with his fans and then took them around the world – and Quartermaine plans to help fill the Skydome on his way to the top.
The 26-year-old says the Coventry venue is “less than 10 minutes” from his home in Leamington Spa and hundreds are sure to follow him there when he tops the bill on Saturday, March 9.
GBM Sports have added Quartermaine to their stable and have paired the fans’ favourite with Alex Rat for the vacant IBF European super-featherweight belt over 10 rounds.
Quartermaine said: “I spoke to Ricky Hatton at a weigh in before a show (before his fourth pro fight in November, 2021) and he said: ‘Make the Skydome your home. Build your following there and then they will follow you wherever you go.’”
What makes Quartermaine popular with fight fans is what made Hatton popular.
He’s exciting.
“Boxers are there to entertain,” said Quartermaine, who could have 400 fans cheering him on at the Skydome.
“And if you buy a ticket to watch me, you know I will leave everything in the ring.”
Edwin Cleary, Quartermaine’s coach since he first went to the gym as a chubby 12-year-old, nods in agreement.
He said: “Even when Danny fights journeymen, he doesn’t look to get the rounds in, he gets stuck in.”
Sky Sports viewers saw him do just that to Christian Lopez Flores in Birmingham last May when he pounded the hard-as-nails Mexican to a rare stoppage defeat.
That was followed by a career-best win, over Jack Hillier.
Both went into the English-title eliminator with spotless nine-fight records and Quartermaine dominated the former amateur star from Southampton, winning all six rounds before Hillier was ruled out with a cut.
Quartermaine was set for fight No 11 in January.
Cleary said: “We took a fight with unbeaten John Cooney over 10 rounds in his home town (Belfast).
“We would have got more money fighting a four rounder against a journeyman in Birmingham, but we fancied the fight and because it was on a Matchroom show, we knew it would open doors.
“We took the fight and then he pulled out. He said he wasn’t ready and then he boxed two weeks later!”
Cleary has a lengthy list of fighters who have refused to share a ring with Quartermaine, including Levi Giles, a front-foot fighter from Grimsby who’s won 15 of 16, and Jordan Flynn, who twice boxed Quartermaine as an amateur.
The hope is, winning a belt will bring fighters to Quartermaine.
Cleary said: “They might want to box Danny once he’s got a belt and a good ranking.”
Dublin buzzsaw Jono Carroll used winning the IBF European super-featherweight belt as a stepping stone to a shot and world honours, so the incentives are there for Quartermaine and Rat.
The Spaniard has mixed in world class before, taking rounds off Archie Sharp, ranked highly in the world by the WBO, and the 31 year old has never been stopped in his 25-fight career.
“This is a good fight for Danny,” said Cleary. “The timing is right and it’s a chance to make a statement.
“It’s a step up and it’s a risk. We know he has championship experience and he comes to fight, but it’s a winnable fight and he isn’t going to run away from Danny.”
That last comment will have Quartermaine licking his lips.
He loves to fight.
“I know Danny can box because I’ve seen him do it in the gym,” said Cleary, “but on fight night he just gets in there and fights – and it’s worked so far !
“I’m going to tell Danny before the fight: ‘Just be yourself.’”