SCOTT Quigg’s return to the ring will likely see him fight back in the UK in the new year.
Bury’s ex-WBA World super-bantamweight champion has not fought on home soil since April 2017 when he outpointed Viorel Simion at Wembley on the night Anthony Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko.
It should have been another Joshua undercard for Quigg last Saturday night as the world watched the Briton regain his titles against Andy Ruiz Jnr, but a recurring arm injury meant he was forced to pull out of a clash with Irishman Jono Carroll in Saudi Arabia.
That fight now looks set to happen at the start of 2020 with Quigg back in training at his Los Angeles base with trainer Freddie Roach ahead of professional fight number 40, the 31-year-old having 35 wins on his record.
“He should fight around February time,” said his agent Paul Speak.
“I think the plan is to put him back in with Jono Carroll.
“Things have been put on hold for him but this one looks like it should be in the UK.”
Being forced to withdraw from a trip to the Gulf means Quigg has not fought since October 2018 when he knocked out Mario Briones in the second round in Boston.
The problem with his arm saw him initially pull out of a fight with Jayson Velez in April with the date with Carroll, a former world title challenger at super-featherweight, also proving to be a false dawn.
“He was out in LA getting ready for his fight around March time and he detached his bicep tendon from the bone,” said Speak.
“He had the operation over there straight away and was put on a course of rehab.
“Then when he went to get checked by the surgeon again after being at home for a bit he was told everything was fine.
“He started training camp for the undercard of the Joshua fight and felt something go in training.
“The surgeon said he’d aggravated the injury, not done any more damage, and advised he rest.
“He’s done that and now is back training and sparring and looking towards a fight in the new year.”
Quigg, who also has two defeats and two draws on his record, harbours hopes of winning a world title in a second weight class having moved up to super-featherweight, a division also now inhabited by long-time rival Carl Frampton.
Carroll is on the hunt for a second shot at world honours after coming up short in Philadelphia in March against IBF champion Tevin Farmer.
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