WILLIE CASEY’S PROMOTER, coach and manager, Phil Sutcliffe, has been talking up the prospects of Saturday night’s world title contest in Citywest.

‘Big Bang’ Casey will face undefeated Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA super-bantamweight title. The highly rated Cuban enjoyed remarkable success as an amateur, winning two Olympic golds and two world championships. Sutcliffe says the contest should be a memorable one.

This fight is going to be one of the most exciting since Bernard Dunne got off the floor to beat Cordoba and Steve Collins when he took Eubank down in Millstreet. This fight is going to be classed one of the greatest.

Sutcliffe also believes that Casey will have the upper hand come March 19. “The disadvantage will be on Rigondeaux,” he said. “Hopefully Rigondeaux will underestimate Willy, because in his comments he said that Willie is a one-trick pony.”

I’ve been looking at Rigondeaux for the past few months and I feel that Willie can sustain his strength in the ring to take Rigondeaux all the way.

Speaking to Newstalk on Thursday night, Casey’s trainer also said that he believed ‘Big Bang’ had the firepower to end the fight before the distance.

I’d say Willie will stop him, I’m not going to mention any rounds, but it will be a fight where one of them is going to stop the other.

Willie has a fantastic chin, his engine is very good, he’s super fit and he’s ready for this fight. You’re going to see sparks fly up in Citywest on the 19th of March.

Casey began his training regime a couple of weeks earlier than usual in preparation for this fight. According to his manager, they had to adjust his schedule slightly so that he will be in top shape come Saturday.

We actually had to pull Willie back, because he was getting too fit too quick.

I had him sparring about five weeks ago and he was peaking too soon so we had to take down the percentages of his work rate.

Sutcliffe also spoke about the circumstances surrounding RTÉ’s live coverage of the fight, the costs of which he and others had to contribute towards.

We have to pay RTE. I won’t disclose the sum, but it’s a substantial sum.

It’s unfortunate, we’re bringing a world title shot to Ireland and we’re not going to make a shilling.

Despite Sutcliffe’s disappointment with the situation surrounding the broadcast, he says it won’t affect what promises to be a momentous night for Irish boxing.

Willie Casey vs Guillermo Rigondeaux is live on RTE and Newstalk, Saturday evening at 10pm.