THE UL Arena in Limerick is the place to be this Saturday night as Limerick’s own, Willie ‘Big Bang’ Casey takes in Paul Hyland from Dublin for the vacant European Super Bantamweight Title.
This is Casey’s date with destiny and his meeting with Irish rival Hyland will be the first time ever two Irishmen slug it out with a European title at stake.
Hyland stepped in for Casey’s original foe Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez last weekend when the Spanish knockout artist was forced to withdraw from his scheduled title defence against Casey due to a rib injury. However the man who famously ended the European title reign of Bernard Dunne graciously agreed to vacate the title to allow Casey and the number 1 challenger Paul Hyland to contest the vacant title on the condition that the new champion will make their first defence against Martinez.
While admitting that the weekend’s upheaval is not ideal Casey’s target remains the same and getting his hands on the European title belt is all the motivation he needs to ensure that those cold morning runs, (a staple part of Casey’s regime) are enjoyed rather than endured.
“When you’re out on those runs you have a bit of time to think and visualise the fight. Up until this week it was always Kiko’s face that was in front of me but that’s changed to Paul Hyland’s now but the result is always the same and at the end of it I’m holding the belt and by the time I come back from my run I’ve a smile on my face.”
To set the tone of the event, Willie compares the title fight between the Munster and Leinster fighers to a Heineken Cup clash in Thomond Park.
“I suppose if you look at it this fight is the boxing equivalent of Munster playing Leinster in a European Cup final in Thomond Park. I’m a huge Munster fan and I remember how proud I felt seeing the European Cup paraded in Limerick a few years ago. Hopefully the people of Limerick will be just as proud to see one of their own becoming a European Champion in boxing.“
Casey is a proud Limerick man and Munster supporter but he’s even prouder to be from Southill, one of Limerick’s most impoverished areas and an area that has had it’s share of negative coverage over the years.
“I suppose bad news sells better than good news,” shrugs Casey. “Sometimes it seems like Limerick and Southill is always in the headlines for the wrong reasons but hopefully I can be a good news story by winning a European title for everyone in Limerick.
Casey’s whirlwind pro career has seen him go from making his professional debut to challenging for a European title in just over 2 years, an achievement made all the more impressive when you consider that by his own admission he didn’t set the world alight as an amateur.
“It’s all happened very quickly for me really. This time last year I was only just getting ready for my third professional fight so it’s been a crazy year and I want to cap it all by wining the European title. Going out to Canada and knocking out the Canadian Champ was an amazing experience, winning the Prizefighter in London was something special but to leave the University Arena with that European title belt and bring in back home to Southill would be the icing on the cake.”
“When I do hang up the gloves I’d like to give something back by training the kids and passing on what I’ve learned because boxing is a terrific sport for giving kids discipline and a goal to aim for. Boxing has given me an awful lot over the years and I plan on giving that back when I retire but I have a bit of business to take care of first with European titles and who knows maybe even a World title. Even the mighty Munster boys haven’t managed that yet!”
