Big Bang seeks dream end

A DREAM ending to the perfect fairytale would see Willie “Big Bang” Casey claim the belt at the Citywest Conference Centre tonight but even the Limerick man’s combination of heart, strength and a defiant attitude is unlikely to strip Guillermo Rigondeaux of his WBA world super bantamweight title.

The Cuban, one of the best amateur boxers of all time, has arrived to defend his title with all the credentials. He has twice been Olympic champion, a two-time world amateur champion, and he beat Ricardo Cordoba for the title he defends tonight.

And his trainer, Ronnie Shields, who has put the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker through his hands, does not see any hope of Willie Casey upsetting the odds, which are very definitely stacked in favour of the champion.