Casey puts up hardened front for Martinez meeting

WILLIE “Big Bang” Casey took his rivalry with newly-crowned European super bantamweight champion, Kiko Martinez, to a new level when they met face-to-face for the third time in the plush surroundings of the new Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin yesterday.

On November 6, the gloves will be on when the Limerick man challenges the explosive Alicante fighter for his prized belt before his home crowd at the UL Arena.

There were all smiles when Casey climbed into the ring to congratulate the Spaniard when he reclaimed the European belt at the National Stadium.

And when Martinez announced he was prepared to put the title on the line in the Limerick southpaw’s backyard and Casey’s response was all gratitude.

Yesterday’s meeting, however, was all close up and personal. Clearly Limerick’s “Prizefighter” hero was in no mood for pleasantries this time.

He listened patiently while his agent, Joe Forbes, recalled how Martinez had stripped Bernard Dunne of the title in just 90 seconds at the old Point Theatre. Then, when he lost it to Rendall Munroe, he was ill and required an operation for a hernia and he was still weak and not ready when he lost the return fight.

“Well, he had better be 110% this time around because I don’t want to hear any of those excuses when I beat him,” Casey said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be 2,000% fit so you’d better be 3,000% good,” Martinez said. “I watched (Casey’s) ‘Prizefighter’ DVD just once,” the champion said. “But I know enough about him and I will be ready.”

Casey admitted he had no designs on a title fight when he watched Martinez demolish his hero, Dunne.

“I would always watch fights and say ‘I could beat him’ but I don’t think that crossed my mind at the time,” he said. “I know I have only got 10 professional fights behind but I have learned a lot in those fights and won them all.”

Casey was not the only one with an eye on the European belt yesterday. Paul Hyland, the reigning Irish and EU super bantamweight champion has been promised a shot at the winner.

“We’ll see how November 6 goes and whoever wins I’ll fight him and I’ll beat him,” Hyland said.

“I hope Willie (Casey) grabs his opportunity with both hands. Just imagine what it would be like to have two Irishmen boxing for a European title.”

Hyland could end up defending either his Irish title or his EU title when he opens the live TV part of the Limerick Hunky Dory’s Fight Night while another “Prizefighter” hero, Martin Rogan, will make his comeback.

Casey won boxing prominence through Prizefighter and Rogan followed the same route beating the Olympic champion, Audley Harrison, and then knocking out the European and Commonwealth champion, Matt Skelton. He was preparing for the return with Skelton when a back injury required major surgery. “Like the old song says, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” said Rogan.

Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night: Big Bang Theory will go on sale today from Ticketmaster.ie, 0818 719300 and usual outlets.