Casey and Hyland showdown will go to the wire, says Rogan

IT is virtually impossible to separate Willie “Big Bang” Casey and Dubliner Paul Hyland, in Saturday night’s European super bantamweight title fight at the UL Arena in Limerick, according to former Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Martin Rogan.

Rogan, who makes his eagerly awaited comeback from injury on the undercard, admits that he’s almost as excited by the main event on Saturday as he is by his own ring return.

“I just can’t separate them to honest,” he said. “I think it will come down to whether or not Willie will prove too strong or if Paul proves to be too slick. Willie’s going to try and be in Paul’s face constantly but Paul has so much boxing ability that it’s a real toss up and too hard to call.

“I think the key to the fight will be for both guys to stick to their game plan and I think whoever gets to execute their game-plan will come out on top. It’s a great blend of styles and personalities and it’s a fantastic opportunity for both lads.

“Willie won the Prizefighter like myself and he has been able to leapfrog into the title picture off the back of that. But I also know Paul from the amateurs and he’s a very clever boxer so it’s one I’m really looking forward to and it’s so difficult to pick a winner.”

Rogan is planning on providing some fireworks of his own on as he looks to bounce back from a career-threatening neck injury that required a three-and-a-half-hour discectomy fusion operation in January.

“I’m so excited about getting back into the ring again and getting on with things,” he said. “Everything has gone brilliantly in training. Even though the neck felt fine and the doctors had given me the all-clear, it’s always in the back of your mind until you actually get back in he ring and start sparring and really put it to the test. But things couldn’t have gone better.”

Fight fans were handed a second heavyweight contest to savour yesterday when Mike “The Rebel” Perez was added to the nine-fight bill.

The Cork-based Cuban heavyweight — a former world junior champion — was brought in to replace his compatriot, super bantamweight, Alexei Acosta, who has been ruled out with a back injury.

Limerick has proved a happy hunting ground for Perez who has already recorded three stoppage wins at the University Arena. Fellow Cork based Cuban, Luis Garcia, is also in action against the two-time time World Champion Byron Mitchell, best known for being the first man to put Joe Calzaghe on the canvas.