Guillermo Rigondeaux and Willie Casey set for Dublin venue

[slapbangwhallop]

Another Irish "world title" fight in March.

Magee, Lee and now Casey.

If only British fighters had an ounce of their thaws!

Toodle-pip chaps!

[Newport Daz]

I hope I'm wrong, but I see Ireland being 0-3 at the end of March. Magee has the best shot imo as he is a genuine top 10 super middle, but still expect to see him lose. Anyway, good luck lads I'll be cheering you on regardless.

[slapbangwhallop]

I hope I'm wrong, but I see Ireland being 0-3 at the end of March. Magee has the best shot imo as he is a genuine top 10 super middle, but still expect to see him lose. Anyway, good luck lads I'll be cheering you on regardless.

you could be right, but its better to have loved and lost then never loved at all!

[whiskey]

I think March will be the best time of Irish boxing I can remember.

Brilliant fights it must be said.

[slapbangwhallop]

Provisional card

Guillermo Rigondeaux Vs Willie Casey
Mark Heffron Vs TBA
Levan Ghvamichava Vs TBA
Alexei Collado Vs TBA
Luis Garcia Vs TBA
Anthony Fitzgerald Vs TBA
Paddy McDonagh Vs TBA
Dean Byrne Vs TBA

[chiggsy]

Hope this ends up getting shown in the uk.
Rigondeaux looked class for the first few rounds against cordoba but faded badly down the stretch.

[whiskey]

Provisional card
Luis Garcia Vs TBA

When is he gonna fight someone ?

[slapbangwhallop]

Provisional card
Luis Garcia Vs TBA

When is he gonna fight someone ?

God only knows, the Cork Cubans have been moved about as fast as the Virgin Great Northern Line when there is leaves on the track.

[Londonirish]

Getting it in Dublin is Great, the crowd will be different Class.. Come On Casey

[alexpaterson]

I don't know what the Irish have done to deserve this! All 3 are in unbelievably tough fights, I think All will lose (I hope I'm wrong though) Casey probably has the best chance on home soil as we haven't really seen how GR deals with effective aggression in the pro ranks but i think Rigo will have far too many tricks and skills for him winning widely on points almost toying with an ever game Willie Casey. Lee doesn't nearly deserve a shot at Martinez but it's a great opportunity for him to make a huge name for himself in the states, I think he'll struggle with Sergio's speed of hand and foot and fast powerful combinations, Lee has a solid jab but I can't see it keeping Martinez off, Martinez wide Ud or late stoppage too fast and I don't think Andy could deal with his in and out style. Magee is fighting potentially a top 3 SMW and a proven world class fighter I feel Magee will get caught too much and stopped late, Bute has hand speed to go along with his power so I doubt Magee has the tools to dethrone him. Bute mid round corner retirement. Again hope I'm wrong on all accounts as it would be great for Irish (and British) boxing to have 3 more world champions!

[D-MAC]

Think I might travel down for this one.

You just know Casey will have a go. Should be good while it lasts.

[slapbangwhallop]

if it happens it is 95% likely to be 19th of March at the CityWest Arena outside Dublin (Tallaght).

Worryingly no mention of a TV deal yet.

[misticmonk]

Provisional card
Luis Garcia Vs TBA

When is he gonna fight someone ?

To be fair this guy is not eligable for Irish, British, commonwealth or European titles so they have to fork out for every opponent. While being great boxers the Cubans don't have a natural fan base and will have to work harder to built up support. All things being considered their backers have done pretty well so far.

[WelshDevil]

Go Willie!

I see no reason why he can't win this.

[J]

Go Willie!

I see no reason why he can't win this.

WOW!
what apart from the other guy is better, quicker ,more punch power and more skilled, apart from those little blockers, no no reason at at all.

tko in 5 probably a hook to the body.

[Captain Hook]

Yes he will be outgunned and outskilled, but at home with a heart as big as his...well, I think he'll do himself proud before getting stopped late on.

That said, Lee will get swatted and so will Magee...

[slapbangwhallop]

Guillermo 'El Chacal' Rigondeaux to be elevated from interim to regular champion. So it will now be for the regular belt.

[Feargal....]

Guillermo 'El Chacal' Rigondeaux to be elevated from interim to regular champion. So it will now be for the regular belt.

Does that mean Ryol Li Lee has been elevated to WBA super champion??? I though you could only be elevated to WBA superchampion if you had another belt (IBF, WBO or WBC) or if you had multiple defenses like Sturm. Ryol Li Lee only just won the belt. I don't get it

[misticmonk]

Tickets on sale now,

ticketgroup.ie

[bennie]

Cuba's Guillermo Rigondeaux travelled to Belfast in 2001 and romped to the world amateur title on a night when David Haye could only win silver. (Carl Froch only managed bronze.) It highlights the ability and the pedigree of Rigondeaux, who also romped to a brace of Olympic gold medals before defecting to the United States last year and turning pro.
Since then, the southpaw sensation has won all seven of his fights (five early) and lifted the interim WBA super-bantamweight belt with a close 12-round decision over Panama's vastly more experienced Ricardo Cordoba last month. Now the 30-year-old Rigondeaux comes full cirle as he returns to Ireland for his first defence against Willie "Big Bang" Casey in Dublin in mid-March.
Casey is a quick learner himself after just 11 fights, all of them wins (seven early). The 29-year-old welder turned pro late but picked up the vacant European super-bantamweight belt in his last outing with an impressive four-round stoppage of Dublin's Paul Hyland, having previously excelled in Prizefighter where he cruised to three victories in one night and the £32,000 first prize.
Casey, much like Rigondeaux, cannot afford to mess around in the pros. The stocky Limerick southpaw brings determination, workrate and strength to the challenge but has yet to travel more than eight rounds, which nibbles away at his chances, particularly in what amounts to a huge leap in class. You only have to look at Rigondeaux's own giant leap against Cordoba to understand the potential pitfalls that await Casey on the night. Rigondeaux went down from a body shot in round six and failed to sparkle, pinching the rounds more than dominating them, hindered by both Cordoba and the thought of doing the full championship limit for the first time. The decision was a split.
Now that is all behind him and the champion can really push on at 12-round level, but Casey we don't know, and he doesn't know himself. Rigondeaux, quick, strong and sharp, holds the centre of the ring and is hard to push back, so Casey will probably box more than before, moving, tucking up, punching in quick bursts to head and body.
Can he do it? It has been done before by an Irishman when Bernard Dunne bagged the same interim title from that man Cordoba on a thrilling night in Dublin in March 2009, but despite his own home advantage, Casey looks likely to come up short.

[mickey1975]

He didnt exactly "cruise" to Prizefighter victory,Bennie.Quite a few had Josh Wale beating him!