by David P. Greisman
The man accused of brutally attacking Nick Casal and sending the boxer to the hospital with severe injuries says that he was defending himself against Casal.
In written testimony provided to the court, Michael P. Vicki, 30, “said the two men engaged in an altercation about 5:30 a.m. on May 12 after Casal paid a visit to his Portland Street home,” reported the Niagara (N.Y.) Gazette.
“Vicki contended that it was Casal who was the aggressor and he had no choice but to defend himself. According to his testimony, Vicki called the police following the incident and voluntarily sought medical treatment at a local hospital for his own injuries,” the article said.
Vicki is facing one count of first-degree assault.
Casal’s father said that his son was attacked after going to meet his ex-girlfriend at the home of the woman’s ex-boyfriend, according to the Associated Press. Casal’s father said his son was attacked while walking away with her, struck at least 15 times by what several reports have said was a golf club — though police have not yet confirmed this.
Casal was split wide open “on the side and back of his head” and needed “more than 300 stitches and staples,” the Buffalo News reported.
Casal, 26, has fought most recently as a welterweight, his last appearance being a third-round technical knockout win in October on the non-televised undercard of the first fight between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. That victory brought his record to 22-4-1 with 17 knockouts and 1 no contest.
David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter at twitter.com/fightingwords2 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fightingwordsboxing, or send questions and comments to fightingwords1@gmail.com
