Licence to thrill- Casey is a free agent
JULY 1 Jonny Stapleton
Former European Champion Willie Casey has sent a come get me plea to any promoter who can get him back to the top of the fight pile.
The Limerick native is no longer the leading light of Dolphil Promotions after a mutual termination.
Big Bang is now ready to re explode on the European scene and is looking for a team that lead him back into title contention.
The Southhill slugger is grateful for the platform which Dolphil provided and enabled him to showcase his talents, but with no shows on the horizon and Don O’Leary taking a break from the game Casey believes its time to move on.
The man, who transcended the back pages and captured the heart of the casual fan ala Bernard Dunne, revealed boxing is now much more than a sport for him and putting food on the table and not self glory is now the main reason he enters the ring.
“I am now a free agent and I am open to offers,” Casey told www.irish-boxing.com.
“There was no fall out with Dolphil Promotions. I would like to thank them for all their help over the start of my career. Don O’Leary has step back for a while for his own reasons and I need to keep fighting. Boxing isn’t a sport for me anymore its a livelihood. I have a wife and kids to provide for. Don and Dolphil were great they ran eight shows in 12 months at one time which is a great achievement and I am grateful to them for getting me to were I am. I am willing to work harder than ever to get back to the top, but I need a new promoter or manager now.”
Casey was keen to stress he has no world title or Guillermo Rigondeaux regrets despite suggestions he should never have taken on a potential pound for pound world champ in just his eleventh fight.
The pocket powerhouse, who beat Paulie Hyland in the first ever all Irish EBU title fight, views the defeat, as a loss in a once off battle and claims it shouldn’t have a prolonged negative effect on his career.
Casey is eager for a ring return to put the bout behind him. The Limerick man believes the European route is the best track back toward the top and claims there are still massive fights out there for him.
“I still have that desire to do well and work hard. I have the type of fan base I never thought I could acquire, which should help. There is a good base to work off I just need someone with the know how to get me to the next level. I want to be kept busy. I want to get in the ring and put the Rigo fight behind me now. I have no regrets over that fight whatsoever, but I want to get back to action. There are big fights out there for me. The super bantamweight division is a massive division. I would think the European route is still a possibility and I would love to be European champ again. There are big European names out there and some great fights for the fans.”
