Jason Quigley Aims to Restore Donegal’s Presence in Professional Boxing

Professional boxing is making a triumphant return to Donegal with Rumble In The Hills: Rising Stars, a high-energy showcase of emerging Irish talent promoted by Ballybofey native and former world-ranked middleweight Jason Quigley through his company, Sheer Sports.

Set for October 18th at the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny, the event will be broadcast live on Triller TV, bringing a fresh wave of professional boxing back to the Northwest.

Headlining the card is Callum Bradley from Tyrone, with Mayo’s Eoghan Lavin in the co-main event. The lineup includes a host of up-and-coming prospects from across Ireland, including Rhys Owens, Jason Myers, Jim Donovan, Tianna Schroeder, Danny Duffy, Kian Hedderman, and more.

The night opens with three exhibition bouts featuring fighters like Chris Boreland (Coleraine), Aobhian Byrne (Naas), Caoimhin Connolly, and Cormac Dylan (Derry).

Quigley’s Vision: A Home for Irish Boxing

For Quigley, bringing pro boxing back to Donegal is deeply personal. Now a coach and promoter, he’s determined to create opportunities for local fighters to compete at home.

“Donegal has always been the forgotten county,” said Quigley. “I want to break that mould. Young fighters shouldn’t have to go to the UK or US just to get a fight.”

Quigley’s long-term goal is to host regular shows in the Northwest, allowing fighters to stay active and build fanbases without leaving home. “I want to guarantee fighters from this area three fights a year. That’s what it takes to progress in the pro ranks.”

He points to a growing wave of local promoters — like Neil Power in Waterford, Jay Byrne in Dublin, and Jamie Conlan in Belfast — as key collaborators in rebuilding the sport nationwide.

Spotlight on Local Talent

Callum Bradley, headlining his first major show, is excited to be fighting close to home: “It’s a massive buzz to headline in just my eighth fight, especially in a venue I used to watch the likes of Paul McCloskey in as a kid.”

Bradley promises an electric night of action: “If you saw my last fight in Belfast, you know what to expect — fast-paced, exciting boxing. The fans will love it.”

In the co-main event, Eoghan Lavin continues his rise under the guidance of Frank Warren, 258 Management, and David McGinley. Lavin sees the event as a stepping stone toward major titles: “I’ve taken this fight for less money just to be active and fight in Ireland. It’s great for my supporters on the West Coast.” “I want to be 8-0 by year’s end and go for Celtic titles and Youth World titles next year.”

A Platform for Growth

Manager David McGinley underlined the importance of grassroots shows like this in building fighters’ careers: “These events help fighters develop their brands and build a local fanbase. They also give fighters like Callum and Eoghan the main event experience they won’t always get on UK cards.”

Quigley agrees, saying this is just the beginning: “We had people after the last show asking, ‘When’s the next one?’ That’s the goal – to build something sustainable here.”

Grateful for the support behind the scenes, Quigley thanked sponsors like Donegal County Council, Rite Financial, O’Reilly’s, R Kings Competitions, Ian Coughlan, The Mangan Group (New York), Conal Thomas Tree Services, and McMenamin Builders.

“You never start at the top. Everyone’s chipping in to make this happen. It’s going to be a fantastic night of boxing – the start of something special.”