Is “Kid Chocolate” Now America’s Top Middleweight?

Off his impressive performance last weekend in Cancun, dismantling Scottish southpaw Craig McEwan (19-2, 10 KOs) live on HBO en route to a sixth-round stoppage, unbeaten defeated middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (26-0, 20 KOs) has arguably established himself as the No. 1 American middleweight.

“I agree,” the 28-year-old Quillin said about being the top 160-pounder in the US. “I think I proved that against McEwan. I’ll fight any of the top middleweights from this country. I’m also one of the best middleweights in the world. I may not be ready to fight Sergio Martinez right now but, after one or two more fights against top 10 opponents, I’ll be ready to fight him for the world title.

“I want a world title fight in the United States, Las Vegas or New York City, and all the other world champions only seem to want to fight in their own backyards (WBA’s Russian Dimitry Pirog, WBC’s Mexican Julio Cedar Chavez Jr., IBF’s Aussie Daniel Geale and WBA’s German Felix Sturm.) I will keep working hard to get better.”

The bi-coastal Quillin, who lives in Los Angeles and New York City, embraced his first opportunity fighting on HBO, displaying a much improved left hook to go with his vaunted athleticism and powerful right hand.

“McEwan showed some technical flaws in his game against Andy Lee,” Quillin noted, “I worked on my left; check-hook off my jab, and rocked him. I’m always accurate but wish that I’d thrown more punches, like I usually do. I would have liked to have gone to his body more with my right, but I knew from the first round on my hook would work every time.”

Quillin, presently rated No. 7 by the World Boxing Association, felt somewhat robbed of a sensational knockout when referee Manolo Alcocer controversially halted the action. “It’s boxing and there’s always a chance,” Petey remarked, “but I understand why the referee stopped the fight at that point. I saw some shots open up and wanted a knockout, but the ref was just doing his job, caring for McEwan’s safety. Hey, that’s why I’m a fighter, and he’s a referee. I never want my opponent to be seriously hurt.”

So, Qullin will take off a few days and then go back to the gym, waiting to hear about his next fight. “I’m my own worst critic,” Quillin concluded. “I watch my fights like I’m another fighter watching me in order to see where I need to improve. I hope to be back in action early next year, but I’ll leave that up to Golden Boy Promotions, my manager John Seip, and trainers Freddie Roach and Eric Brown. We’re a team.”