Casey impresses in Dublin
8 August 2010 – Cormac Campbell
Willie Big Bang Casey moved to 10-0 (6KO) with a shutout (80-72) points victory over tough Italian Emiliano Salvini at CityWest on Saturday night.
In victory, the 28-year-old Prizefighter champion showed new aspects of his game, with periods of patient punch picking providing a versatile contrast to the more familiar mix of pressure and power.
Salvini 13-12-1 (KO) was the right opponent at the right time – a man who, only last November, had challenged Malik Bouziane for the European bantamweight title. As such Salvini offered a test, without representing a serious risk to Caseys rapid rise.
With Irish super-bantamweight rival Carl Frampton watching from Ringside, Casey impressed from the first bell, and there were indications that it could have been a short nights work when with ten seconds left in the first round he wobbled Salvini with a big southpaw right hand.
Strong as an ox, the Italian soaked up Caseys pressure only to return fire. Casey was tagged a couple of times with meaty shots particularly in the second round when having pinned Salvini in the corner, the Italian turned Casey on the ropes and nailed him with a right hand.
In the third Salvini looked as if he was beginning to tire. Indeed when he was bundled to the canvas following a wrestle he was slow to rise. But even if he was running on fumes, he was not looking for a way out.
There were times when referee Emile Tiedt would have been well within his remit to end hostilities, however on reflection it seems appropriate the Salvini would make it to the final bell.
Now in total control, Casey began punch picking in the fifth round something that he appears to be quite good at. When he boxed, his accuracy and variety was impressive. He threw and landed just about every shot in the book. It is this form of versatility that will serve him well when the time comes to make a play for the European title.
Casey returns to action in Belfast on September 18, with an opponent expected to be named in the coming week.
