Kempsey local Renold Quinlan shocked the boxing world on Friday night when he managed to knockout Daniel Geale in the second round to win the IBO super-middleweight title.

Quinlan was told by other fighters and trainers he was making a huge mistake in taking on a boxer of Geale’s experience and talent so early in his career but he saw it as an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“I want to show Australia that I am the next big thing in boxing. Geale’s record speaks for itself, he has been a great boxer for a long time and to knock him out has put me in the spotlight.”

The 27-year-old was full of confidence and the victory has now opened a lot of avenues for him to pursue.

“I will be sitting down with my trainer, manager and the rest of my team over the next few days to discuss my next move,” Quinlan explained.

“I will be soaking it all up but I want to get back in the ring and keep chasing my goals, I am still very fresh after the fight.”

Quinlan has never fought outside of Australia but he sees his next opportunity coming overseas against other super-middleweight champions.

“There are rumours already circulating that I will be facing Felix Sturm. It would be another tough fight and I would enter as the underdog but I believe in my abilities and it is paying off,” he said.

“It would be huge for Australian boxing if that fight could be held here but realistically I will probably have to travel to get the big fights.”

Sturm is the current WBA super middleweight champion and former IBF and WBO champ who has a record of 40 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses, including one at the hands of Geale in 2012.

The Kempsey boxer idolised Geale when he was growing up but he knew once he stepped into the ring it would be all business and that he would be knocking him out early.

“I had the number seven wrote on my hand wraps because I knew it would be over by then.”

The victory has made Quinlan more motivated than ever and he credits his current mindset and work ethic to relocating to Kempsey.

“In Sydney you can get caught up in other things. Moving back to Kempsey has made me a lot more relaxed and focused.”

“People say you need to be in a big gym to be successful but it’s not about the gym, it is about the hard work that goes into your training and nobody sees what I do behind the scenes, the hours I am putting in.”

“It is a small set up and just out the back of our house but we can do everything there and we are on our own.”

The victory catapulted Quinlan into 10th position in the worldwide boxing rankings and number one in Australia and improved his record to 11 wins and 1 loss.