No TV3 for Casey
17 February 2011 – Jonny Stapleton
TV3 are the latest Irish TV company to tune out to the idea of broadcasting Willie Caseys mouth-watering WBA interim World title clash with Guillermo Rigondeaux.
It seems TV3, like RTE, believe the biggest fight to grace Ireland since the Bernard Dunne era isnt financially viable in the current climate. Like their public service broadcaster counterparts, RTE, who spoke to irish-boxing.com via Ryle Nugent last week, TV3 were extremely interested Big Bangs big night. However, despite positive talks with Nowhere2Hyde and Dolphil Promotions they revealed this week that they will not air Caseys March 19 City West hosted bout with the man billed as the greatest amateur of all time.
Dolphil claim Setanta Sports is still an option but a very unlikely one at this rate. It seems all the TV companies believe in Caseys ability to pull a substantial audience and will broadcast the bout if the promoters pay for production, but neither Dolphil or Nowhere2Hyde are in a position to do so.
Irish TVs recent reluctance to air boxing may have a severely detrimental effect on domestic pro fighting in 2011 and beyond, but it wont put Casey Rigondeaux show in jeopardy.
We had hoped that a deal could be struck with TV3 but unfortunately due to the timeframe involved and their current budget they have ruled themselves out. They were very interested but as they are a private enterprise it would have had to make financial sense for them to commit and on this occasion it didn’t, Daniel Halpin of Dolphil Promotions explained.
No TV has no ill effect on the show. It is a shame that one of the biggest fight in recent Irish boxing history wont be available to the people around Ireland. Willie Casey has got support from all four corners of the country and its shame that beyond the 5000 people watching live no one will be able to see his big night.
