LIMERICK will set another first on November 6 next when Southill’s boxing sensation, Willie Casey, one of the city’s proud sporting sons, will take on Spaniard, Kiko Martinez in the first ever European title fight to be decided in the Treaty City.
And for the professional boxer of just over a year and a half, Casey will test the Big Bang theory against the best boxer in Europe at the UL Arena in a scheduled 12 bout contest
as the main event of the Hunky Dory’s Fight Night for the European Super Bantamweight title. Casey and Martinez faced off at King John’s Castle this week with promoter Brian Peters ahead of both returning to their respective training camps.
“I’m a very proud Limerick man and I will train hard for this”, said the former Our Lady of Lourdes St Saviours boxer. “I had my first fight pro in Limerick and there’s nothing better than to come back and fight for a title here. People kept asking me if I was going to fight in Limerick again and I’m honoured that this is the one.
“I want these types of fights, I learn nothing from the journey men that last a round or two, I know Kiko will aim to hold on to that belt, but this will be a 50/50 fight and I’m going to go all the way.”
Martinez, a fan of Casey and his attitude to the sport and his manner, said that he would have loved to fight Willie in Spain, “in a bullring with 10,000 fans at 6.30 in the evening, but that was not to be, we’ll just do it here”.
The new European champion took the title last weekend in Dublin when he outpointed Armenian Arsen Martirosyan and immediately agreed to the fight with Casey.
But Willie knows the importance of the contest and vows to give the Limerick people something to cheer for on the night.
“There are only 14 people from Ireland who have won it and no one from Limerick, Hopefully everything will go according to plan but I’d prefer if it was next week instead of eight weeks time. I’m so excited about this.”
Despite his obvious excitement and desire to make sure the belt stays in Limerick, Casey still has his feet on the ground.
“I’m a proud Limerick man proud to be from Southill, I still live there and these are the fights I want to be in. It’s going to be one to remember.”
Tickets for the event start at €30 and are available from usual outlets from Friday October 1.
