JA'RICO O'QUINN ANXIOUS FOR RING RETURN AND WORLD TITLE SHOT
After winning the WBO International super flyweight belt in 2019, WBO top 10 contender Jarico O’Quinn (14-0-1, 8 KO) is eagerly awaiting his chance to return to the ring and soon fight for a major world title. O’Quinn hasn’t fought since January of this year, when he won a unanimous decision over Oscar Vasquez over 10 rounds.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily interrupted his boxing career, O’Quinn has been working construction back home in Detroit during his time off to make ends meet. While he has been exercising, he hasn’t been doing much boxing.
“I’ve been doing a little something just to maintain, but here in Detroit, all of the gyms are closed,” O’Quinn said to ESBR Boxing in July. “So I haven’t been to a boxing gym since early February…”
Even though he’s been out of the boxing gym for a while, O’Quinn is ready to be in the world title race as soon as possible upon his return.
“I feel like I should be in that discussion now because I’m in the top 10. I’m ranked no. 9 by the WBO. And to be honest, I ain’t ducking nobody, anybody ahead of me can get it. If one of those fighters [at super flyweight] get that world title, they can call out anybody in the top 10 or 15, so call me out!” O’Quinn said. “I don’t really have a preference, I’m cool with Joshua Franco [WBA “regular” champion], that’s my boy, I know he just got the title and all, but any of those other guys can get it, if the money is right and the contract is right, it is what it is.”
O’Quinn is certain that he won’t be at super flyweight for much longer if he wins a world title.
“I want to get the title shot then move up. I don’t plan on staying [at 115] that long, I want to move up to 118, and eventually move up to 122,” he said.
The 25-year-old doesn’t feel like he has one specific attribute that stands out, but believes that he can fight in any style depending on who he’s in the ring with.
“You just never know what you’re gonna get with me. I just adapt to the circumstances. I might box, I might bang, I might counter, or do all of it,” O’Quinn explained. “I think I’m faster than I look. I’m faster and got good timing. I think my power shocks a lot of people too. When they get hit [by me] they try their best not to get hit again. I could have more knockouts, but I’ve been rushing and trying to get them when they really don’t come. But I feel like I got great power, and when guys get hit by me, they go in survival mode.”
O’Quinn is currently signed with Salita Promotions, which also has 3-division women’s boxing superstar Claressa Shields under its roster. Jarico is fine with Salita Promotions at the moment, but does admit that there are some things that could be better.
“It’s alright. I'm getting fights, I’d like to be busier but I’m staying busy. I would like more money too, because I know the type of crowds I bring, so that’s the one thing I don’t like, I don’t like the pay.”
Unfortunately for Quinn, crowds may not be at the fights for a long time, but at this point, he simply wants to fight, and to fight soon.
“I don’t really care. We can fight in the middle of the street without gloves on, without coaches, anything. As long as I’m getting paid and I’m getting the recognition that I deserve, it is what it is, I’m all for it. Just make sure the paper’s right and make sure that it’s on TV. I want to get closer and closer to a world title so make sure [the person I’m fighting] is ahead of me [in the rankings]. If the fight ain’t moving me towards a world title, I don’t want it.”