Quinn misses weight for Commonwealth title fight
The Commonwealth flyweight title will not be on the line for Conor Quinn against Jake Dodd on Friday night as the Belfast man failed to make the 8st (50.8 kg) limit.
Quinn initially scaled 112.8lb and was given an hour to shed the eight ounces, but returned with a reading of 112.4, meaning the title is on the line for Dodd only when they fight at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.
The 28-year-old had hoped to make up for the disappointment of defeat by Conner Kelsall in a 2024 Commonwealth flyweight title fight – Quinn's sole defeat in a professional career that has also seen him claim 10 wins and a draw – but will now have to reassess his future in the division.
Since that defeat by Kelsall, Quinn has boxed just once – a routine win over journeyman Sean Jackson in February 2025.
While disappointed he will not get the opportunity to make up for this loss this week, he will seek to showcase the improvements made in the gym under the tutelage of coach and former unified world bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett.
"Every day you're still going in there and learning something new," Quinn told BBC Sport NI.
"That gives you a lot of confidence going into a fight that there is someone there who have been there and done it.
"Ryan has the experience, been a two-time world champion but in order to reach that stage, you forget the amount of rounds you have to spar, the different styles you come across and the amount of great coaches he has worked with. As a fighter, I'm guilty of seeing the bright lights on fight night and go off that, but forget the effort needed to get there.
"He has the experience money can't buy and that's a great confidence-booster going into this fight as it's the biggest stage of my career, but it's not the biggest for him. This is the first timer in a long time and I can look at myself in the mirror and say I've improved as a fighter."
'I've learnt from the Kelsall defeat'
Against Kelsall, Quinn seemed befuddled by an opponent who was constantly on the move and who carried out the game-plan to perfection, taking the Belfast man's strengths away.
It proved to be a huge learning curve for Quinn, who comes into this Friday's meeting with Dodd much more streetwise when it comes to what may present itself.
His 31-year-old Welsh opponent has won all six of his professional contests against modest opposition, so the trip to Belfast represents a significant step up.
Whether Dodd will approach this in the same manner and attack or seek to change tact is not a concern for Quinn, who now believes he is ready for anything.
"I went in that night (against Kelsall) and it is a style I'd never seen before," he recalled.
"Obviously, it didn't go my way, but now you prepare for it and maybe I needed that to open my eyes. As a fighter, you think you've ticked every box but those experiences tell you that 'you need to be doing this or that'.
"Jake Dodd is a great fighter with an aggressive style, but I think it plays in my favour."
