Casey back in the gym

6 April 2011 – Jonny Stapleton

Willie Casey is determined to put the past behind him and is focusing on the belts he will win in the future rather than the world title he failed to take off Guillermo Rigondeaux last month.

The inspirational Limerick man didnt cope too well with the Cubans missiles as he was stopped in round one of their WBA interim title fight, but has taken the defeat on the chin and is already plotting a ring return. ‘Big Bang’ claims there is no shame in losing to the best amateur of all time and revealed the reverse wont drive him underground but inspire him to come back stronger.

Spurred on by the massive support he received and his new found Limerick role model status, the former European super-bantamweight champion is chomping at the bit and ready to rejoin the race for major honours. Casey was back in training just days after his defeat and hopes to be out again as early as May or June.

I am in this for the long haul. I was back in training the Wednesday after my fight. I want to look forward and not back. I would love to be in the ring in four or five weeks time, Casey told www.irish-boxing.com.

I am ready to go again and get back to winning ways. I believe I can get back to world level. The way I look at the Rigondeaux fight is its a loss on my record, that is it. Lots of fighters have lost and come back. I didnt lose to a nobody I lost to a good fighter. I learned from the defeat and will come back bigger and stronger. I got massive support and I owe it to them to comeback. I want to show people you can get knocked down but that doesnt mean you cant get back up. I wont go into hiding. I could be on a Dolphil card in the summer, but we are open to offers.

Some pundits have claimed that the greatest amateur of all time, Rigondeaux, was not only a step too far too soon for Casey, but a step he should never have taken. The pint-sized power house, however, has no regrets and said he would take the fight again if the chance arose.

Casey doesnt want to hang around before being forced to hang up gloves. The Southill southpaw claims his ‘fight any man anytime policy’ helped him win Prizefighter, claim the European title and earned him a coveted world title tilt. As a result he will continue to employ that strategy going forward.

No matter who you fight it is a risk. You are just one punch away from defeat in boxing, but as I have said before I am not here to hang around and pad out a record. I want to win things and fight the best and that hasnt changed. Kiko Martinez and the European route is an option but it is one I dont have to take. I could fight a world ranked opponent and get myself back into contention. When I am focused and in training I believe I can beat anyone. I am going to do all I can do to get back to the top.