It might be hard to believe for some, but the bright lights of Las Vegas and Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal didn’t mix.
Instead, the 23-year old welterweight boxer is moving his training camp much closer to his Niagara Falls home in suburban Chicago.
“It was really time to get out of Vegas and get back closer to my roots,” Casal said by phone. “Vegas was more about celebrity status than anything else and that’s not what I need right now in my career.”
So Casal, who is still under contract with Gary Shaw Productions, enlisted the help of Chicago-based trainer Mike Soria. The two have been working with each other for the past few weeks and Casal can already see the difference.
“It’s just little tweaks, but it’s a lot more about defense and getting back to quicker movements like the amateur days,” he explained.
Casal added that he’s able to spar at any time, a luxury that wasn’t always available in Sin City.
“Every day there’s a quality guy in the gym with me here, where in Vegas you’d have to call a guy to fly in from (Los Angeles) or you’d have to travel to them,” he said.
Casal said he’s scheduled to fight Aug. 8 on the undercard of
see casal on page 4b
casal ...
continued from page 1b
ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights in Chicago. His opponent has not been determined at this time, although Frankie Zepeda is a strong possibility, according to reports.
It will be the first fight for Casal (17-3-1) since he dropped a controversial decision to Jose Antonio Ojeda in early May. Casal contends that Ojeda used his glove to aid himself up in the opening round, thus triggering a knockdown on the scorecard. The knockdown was never acknowledged by the referee or judges. Casal did record a knockdown of Ojeda in Round 3, making the possible error in Round 1 that much more of a factor in the scoring.
Casal’s camp previously said they planned to protest the decision following the fight, but Nick said he hasn’t heard any news on that front and has assumed that the protest “didn’t go through.”
For now, he’s focused on the future, which could include a bout in his own backyard. Casal said he’s tentatively scheduled to fight in a Sho-Box event Sept. 5 in Nevada and if all goes well, he’d like to be on the Seneca Niagara Casino’s second annual Fight Night card Sept. 20.
“My dad has been in talks with the promoter and I think they want to get me on there because we could probably sell it out,” Casal said. “If it does happen, it would be awesome. I’ve been waiting to fight at home again.”
Casal’s last fight in the area was as an amateur in 2002.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.
Sports
Related Photos
BOXING: Casal getting back to his roots
- Sports
-
-
McMahon strong arms Lockport
Junior Sarah McMahon pitched one of the best games of her varsity career on Friday, lifting No. 7 Williamsville North to an upset, 3-0, win over No. 2 Lockport in a Section VI Class AA softball quarterfinal contest.
-
Roy-Hart advances to B-2 baseball final with win over Wilson
A marathon 15-run third inning keyed No. 2-seeded Royalton-Hartland to a 21-4 victory over No. 6 Wilson on Friday in the Section VI Class B-2 semifinal baseball contest.
-
Devils advance to Stanley Cup Finals
Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.
-
Joe D's in the house
While “concussions” remain a high profile topic in the National Football League today, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure said they were relatively unheard of when he played professional football.
-
Slow start, big finish
If someone asks you to describe the 2012 Lockport baseball Lions, just say, “slow start, big finish.”
-
LHS will take on Will North Friday in VI softball quarterfinal
The No. 2-seeded Lockport Lions found out Tuesday who they'll play at 4:45 p.m. Friday in a Section VI Class AA quarterfinal softball game.
-
Lockport's Weaver tops at Two Fly Challenge
Eleven-year-old Jake Weaver took first place recently in the youth division at the 13th Annual Ausable River Two Fly Challenge.
-
More games in Toronto
The NFL's International Committe approved the Buffalo Bills' plan to extend their series of games in Toronto on Tuesday and a new five-year agreement between the teams and Rogers Communications is expected to be finalized soon.
-
Batter up!
Outwater Park is the place for LHS baseball fans to be this afternoon, where the young, but talented Lockport Lions will host West Seneca West at 5 p.m. in a Section VI Class AA pre-quarterfinal playoff contest.
-
Sabres sign Sulzer to one-year deal
The Buffalo Sabres rewarded Alexander Sulzer on Monday, signing him to a one-year, $725,000 contract.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
