Scott Quigg says his jaw is healing as he aims for another tilt at world level after Carl Frampton defeat
Since Brit has been out, Frampton moved up to featherweight and ripped WBA world title from Leo Santa Cruz
SCOTT QUIGG is over the heartache of his first pro defeat and has set his sights on returning with a bang in November.
Quigg was left with a broken jaw as Carl Frampton unified the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles at the Manchester Arena in February.
The Bury star was brought up with the unwavering belief that there is no room for runners-up and the loss hit him hard.
Surgery to repair his damaged jaw left him unable to train, which was equally tough for a fighter that lives, eats and breathes boxing.
But Quigg, 27, is now doing what he loves once again and believes he is ready to jump back in at world-title level.
He told SunSport: “My jaw’s healing well. I had an X-ray recently and everything was fine. I’m back light sparring and it’s good to be living normally again.
“It was very difficult to get over because I’ve been brought up from a youngster knowing there’s no time for runners-up — and there isn’t.
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“Some people have written me off and some that used to pick up the phone to me have disappeared.
“No one remembers a runner-up. That’s why I was brought up as a winner and I have to win.
“But I’ve not let the defeat break me. You’ve got to learn from it and I know I’ll come back stronger — I’m already feeling a better fighter.
“I’ll be back in November and I’ve got options at both super-bantamweight and featherweight.
“Without a doubt, I’ll be ready to come back in for a world title. I don’t need a ten-rounder — I lost to Frampton by split decision.
“People may say I need to assess the jaw, but it’s going to get hit in sparring. If it breaks it breaks, but at this minute it’s 100 per cent healed.”
The injury was a blessing in disguise for Quigg’s devoted fiancee Beverley, who rarely sees him during training camp.
He added: “No word of a lie, she probably lives a mile down the road and in that 12 weeks before the fight I saw her about six times.
“Boxing is first and foremost to me, but it was nice to spend some time with her. It was good to be ‘normal’ and eat some bad food."
In the time Quigg has been out, Frampton moved up to featherweight and ripped the WBA Super world title from Leo Santa Cruz.
The Bury fighter was in New York to witness his fellow Brit's victory last weekend and is keen to settle the score.
Scott Quigg returns to the ring later this year
But he added: “If it never happens, it never happens. Yet if it was the other way round with him fighting on for eight rounds with a broken jaw and me getting the win, they would have been jumping and down for a rematch.
“If you get beat, you want to avenge that loss. If someone tells you different, they’re in the wrong sport.
“I left that ring that night knowing I can beat Frampton, but I know there’s many other big fights out there for me and I’m going to become world champion again.”