Willie 'Big Bang' Casey has targeted the European title after winning Prizefighter Super-Bantamweights title in a night of thrilling action, drama and controversy at London’s York Hall.
Casey, 28, from Limerick, Ireland, claimed the £32,000 winner's prize with a unanimous points victory over Scottish substitute Paul McElhinney.
McElhinney got his chance in the final after Welshman Ricky Owen was left in tears after a bad cut sustained during his semi-final win denied him a final appearance.
“This victory means I’m up there at the top of the division and I’ve proved I can be with the best,” said a delighted Casey, who entered Prizefighter as a short-notice replacement after Wayne McCullough withdrew injured.
“I only came here with five fights on my record but I beat everyone against all the odds.
“It was a great opportunity and if a big fight comes up then I will always take it. Prizefighter came along and without hesitation I accepted it.
“I was a bit edgy before the start as I normally come on stronger in the later rounds but then I had a fast start in my first fight.
“I showed a lot of character and that I have a big heart as there were some great lads in this.
“The best in Britain were in this competition including Esham Pickering and Jamie Arthur but I’m the one left standing.
“Who knows what the future holds? I might get a shot at the European title after winning Prizefighter. I’m very proud of everything I’ve done.”
In one of the greatest Prizefighter events ever, four of the seven fights were decided by a split decision, while one was stopped inside the distance.
Casey won an incredible semi-final on points against Barnsley’s Josh Wale in a contest where a staggering 532 punches were thrown in three rounds.
The other semi-final saw Owen gain a hard-fought win over 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jamie Arthur.
However, both men gained bad cuts during the contest and Owen’s cut saw him unable to fight in the final.
This was the 12th Prizefighter event and it started in explosive fashion as Casey floored Liverpool’s Mark Moran during their quarter-final before the contest was then stopped.
Barnsley’s Josh Wale narrowly defeated former European, Commonwealth and British champion Esham Pickering in the next contest.
Arthur scraped past Robbie Turley in the third quarter-final before Owen climbed off the canvas to beat Gavin Reid in the last one.
Prizefighter Super Bantamweights
Quarter Finals
Mark Moran lost to Willie Casey - Ref stopped fight round 3
Esham Pickering lost to Josh Wale - Split decision 29-30, 29-28, 28-29
Robbie Turley lost to Jamie Arthur - Split decision 27-29, 29-28, 27-30
Gavin Reid lost to Ricky Owen - Split decision 28-29, 29-28, 28-29
Semi Finals
Willie Casey beat Josh Wale - Split decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Jamie Arthur lost to Ricky Owen - Unanimous decision - 27-30, 28-29, 28-29
* Ricky Owen sustained a cut in the semi-final and could not fight in the final. His place in the final was taken by Paul McElhinney, who had won a coin toss.
Final
Willie Casey beat Paul McElhinney - Unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 30-28
Yanjing Beer Fight Night: Conlan believes he can become Lord of the Fly's
Belfast has a proud tradition of producing some of the finest little men in boxing, no more so than in the flyweight division where names such as Rinty Monaghan, Dave McAuley, Hugh Russell and Damaen Kelly have delighted Belfast fight fans down through the years. Now another Belfast flyweight, Jamie Conlan is intent on following in their footsteps as he makes his King's Hall debut on the undercard to Paul McCloskey's first European title defence at The King's Hall on Friday, June 11th on the Yanjing Beer Fight Night.
Flyweight legends Monaghan and McAuley both defended their World titles at the King's Hall while Russell won the British title at the Balmoral venue and Conlan's trainer John Breen believes his charge has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Monaghan, McAuley, Russell and Kelly.
The veteran Belfast coach said, “Jamie's only been a pro since last November and I see improvement in him every single day in the gym. He's a great little fighter with a terrific attitude and I think if he gets the opportunity he could be British and Commonwealth champion by the end of the year and I genuinely believe that.
“I watched Shinny Bayaar and Ashley Sexton fight for the British title a few weeks ago and I'd back Jamie against either of them right now. He's only had 2 fights so of course he needs a bit more seasoning but I see him day in, day out in the gym sparring far bigger men like Andy Murray and Kevin O'Hara and I've no doubt he's as good as any of the flyweight's in Britain right now.”
Breen is equally confident that Conlan would have the measure of fellow Belfast man Luke Wilton although he doesn't see the fight happening any time soon. “It would be great to see two Belfast lads taking each other on but I don't think Luke wants the fight unfortunately. I've seen them sparring before and I know there would only be one winner.
“I know Luke's targeting a British title shot himself but I don't think he's ready for that level and anyway he should be proving that he's the best in Belfast first before going for the British title.”
Paul McCloskey's first European Light Welterweight title defence against mandatory challenger Giuseppe Lauri headlines a big night of championship boxing at the King's Hall while in the chief supporting bout Lurgan's Stephen Haughian takes on former British champ, Kevin McIntyre for the Celtic Welterweight title.
Cavan's Andy Murray also features as the undefeated European number 3 looks to take another step close to a European title fight with namesake, John Murray. Rising Belfast star Carl Frampton will get a chance to fight in his hometown for the first time as a pro. The Barry McGuigan managed super bantamweight is unbeaten in his first 5 professional outings and tipped for for big things in the paid ranks.
Another exciting new Belfast talent out to extend his unbeaten record at the King's Hall will be flyweight Jamie Conlan while Cuban sensation Alexei Acosta will also feature as he looks to continue a incredible knockout streak that has seen him stop all 10 of his professional opponents to date. Acosta, a World Junior Champion in the amateur ranks is now based in Cork having turned professional in 2008.
The Yanjing Beer Fight Night will be live on Sky Sports and tickets priced ￡30, ￡60 and ￡90 are available from Ticketmaster and all usual outlets. Contact Ticketmaster 0844 8472455 (0818 719300 from ROI), Box Office 01277 359900, Julie 07745698372, Francie 07803282224.
In only five days ARENA will present the first-ever boxing world championship on Turkish soil in Istanbul when rising welterweight star Selcuk Aydin takes on Canada based Romanian Ionut Dan Ion for the WBC Silver title.
Both contenders are unbeaten in their professional career. Aydin – ranked on no. 2 in the WBC 147 ratings only behind Floyd Maywether, jr. – holds 19 wins in as many pro-fights including a split decision over Said Ouali and a ninth round ko against „Sugar“ Jackson Osei Bonsu which earned him the European championship. „Jo-Jo“ Dan is rated on no. 1 at 140 lbs. He has won all of his 26 professional fights so far including 14 stoppages.
„We expect a very tough and close fight“ states promoter Ahmet Öner. „Selcuk is without a doubt the stronger man and I believe that he will overwhelm Ion with his physical skills. But the Romanian surely doesn’t come to Istanbul because of the good weather. He will give it his all and try to take the belt to Canada.“
Aydin and his trainer Ismael Salas arrived in Istanbul last week after finishing their training camp in Miami, Florida. Ion is expected to arrive in Turkey this afternoon from Montreal.
