Willie Casey's WBA interim shot confirmed

Dolphil Promotions have announced that a deal has been struck between both Guillermo Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde, Top Rank Promotions and Dolphil Promotions for a fight between European champion Willie Casey and WBA interim champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.

The fight is scheduled for March 2011 and is now likely to be held in Dublin rather then Cork, as previously stated.

Let's make one thing immediately clear though.  No matter how many times in the build up this match is referred to as a 'world title fight', it isn't.  Well, unless something changes, which it very well might do with all the ridiculous gradations of champion this board promotes.  The WBA super-bantamweight champion is Ryol Li Lee of Japan who beat then champion Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym in October.  Rigondeaux has the interim version by way of beating Ricardo Cordoba last month.

“The deal is in place, Ireland can now prepare itself for one of the greatest fights ever held over here. You have a two-time Olympic Gold medallist and WBA world champion (see? - Ed.) against Ireland’s ‘Cinderella man’- a man who has beaten all the odds to get to where he is now. We are delighted that it's going ahead and also that it will be held here in Ireland,” said Daniel Halpin.

Casey's fairy tale is progressing at great speed with this fight coming for him after just 11 professional fights.

The Cuban super-bantamweight is pleased a deal has been struck and is relishing his chance to fight in Ireland. “I am very happy to come to Ireland, the same place where I won my first World Amateur title. I have watched Casey and I believe this will be a tough fight, he fights with passion and a lot of courage but I believe I will remain (interim) champion after this fight.”