Unbeaten Irish prospect Willie ‘Big Bang’ Casey continued his spectacular rise with a fourth round stoppage of fellow Irishman, Paul Hyland, to claim the vacant European super bantamweight title in his home town of Limerick. Hyland, a former amateur star, and considered the better boxer, was mauled and mugged by the aggressive Casey who didn’t take a backward step the entire fight.
Despite a close and exciting first two rounds, Casey came alive in the third. As Hyland was tiring, ‘Big Bang’ upped the pressure and after an unanswered barrage of punches in the fourth, referee John Keane, had little option but to step in and end the fight.
Hyland was a late replacement for the Spaniard Kiko Martinez and despite the contrasting styles of the two, Casey adapted his game perfectly, proving his professionalism as well as skill. Hyland came out fighting and took everyone, apart from Casey, by surprise as he dismissed his usual boxing style and traded with ‘Big Bang’.
The first two rounds were enthralling as the pair went hell for the leather throwing an assortment of punches. Casey was caught with a strong left hook but didn’t flinch and came straight back, unleashing a venomous array of hooks and uppercuts.
As the combatants came out for the third, Hyland was obviously tiring. Casey kept up his intense pressure and trapped his opponent against the ropes on more than one occasion.
Many consider Casey nothing but a brawler, but the ‘Pride of Limerick’ showed us all he has so much more to offer. Keeping a high guard when needed, utilizing smart footwork with powerful punches, and a keen analytical brain, he opened up, wore down and finished off the unfortunate Hyland.
This was only Casey’s eleventh pro fight, making his achievements nothing short of amazing. A mandatory defense against Martinez is expected but not before ‘Big Bang’ gets some much needed rounds under his belt with a tune up fight or two.
Quick mentions should also go to Martin Rogan and Luis Garcia who picked up impressive victories on the undercard. Garcia, the highly rated Irish based, Cuban, faced his first real test against former super middleweight world champion, Florida’s Byron Mitchell. It should however be noted that Mitchell, remembered by many as the first man to knock Joe Calzaghe to the canvass, looked like a shot fighter. He was clumsy and uncomfortable, especially against the young Cuban’s rapid hand speed. Mitchell took a knee in round two following a small cut underneath his left eye. He went the corner shaking his head and it was obvious to all that this once impressive boxer had no fight left in him and experienced referee Mickey Vann called an end to the bout.
Rogan, Belfast’s former Commonwealth heavyweight champion and Audley Harrison conqueror, returned to the ring after a serious neck injury which almost ended the 39 year old’s career. He battered Bulgarian journeyman Yavor Marinchev, claiming a first round KO.
It was however Casey who stole the show. ‘Big Bang’ has everything in place to become a star; an exciting, aggressive fighting style, a larger than life personality and a well respected team around him. It will be interesting to see how America takes to this fast talking, fast punching Irishman, but in the meantime Casey has his eyes on gaining more experience, dominating the domestic division and continuing to enthrall his growing fan base.
