A familiar name, especially to the local boxing fans, will make his first ring appearance in just under five years този петък night in his own hometown of Niagara Falls, Ню Йорк.

Former red-hot prospect Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal (22-4-1, 17 Нокаута) says he’s expecting some rust, but should have enough to overcome when he takes on 37-fight veteran Antonio Chaves Fernandez of Brockton, Massachusetts, in one of the untelevised supporting bouts at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Казино. The fight will be Casal’s first at home as a professional.

In the night’s 10-round main event, WBO #11-, WBA #12- and IBF #15-rated heavyweight boxer Jarrell “Big Бебета” Мелничар (16-0-1, 14 Нокаута), defends his WBA NABA Heavyweight title against Topeka, Канзас, slugger Nick Guivas (12-3-2, 9 Нокаута). And in the 10-round lightweight semi-final, red-hot Filipino prospect Harmonito “El Huracan de Gensan” Dela Torre (17-0, 12 Нокаута) will make his debut on US soil against capable veteran Guillermo Sanchez (15-18-1, 6 Нокаута) от Buffalo.

Представено от Greg Коен Промоции, Salita Промоции, FightCard Productions and Winner Take All Productions, “Championship Boxing на CBS Sports Network” will be broadcast live nationally at 9 ч EST.

30-year-old Casal was headed for big things in boxing before suffering a loss of focus and all four of his losses in a two-year stretch from 2007 към 2009. Оттогава, inactivity has been the name of his game.

So where was he and why wasn’t he fighting?

“I never really left,” said Casal during a break in one of his final training sessions. “I’ve been working full-time for the last three years, but I was ready to go and trying to get a fight the whole time. I had a number of them fall through. I had one fight fall through at the weigh-in when a guy failed his physical. That was heartbreaking. Но сега, I finally have a team in place that can keep them from falling through and I’m glad to be finally getting back in the ring.”

Casal says he’s basically the same talented fighter he always was… with a few improvements.

“Физически, I feel exactly the same as I did five years ago. Умствено, I would say I’m a little stronger and a lot more patient than I was when I was younger. I set my shots up a lot better. I don’t think the ring rust will be as bad as it is for other guys who take a lot of time off. I’ve been in the gym training fighters and working out the whole time. I expect to have a little bit of rust, but not as much as someone who was completely out for years. I picture it going very well if I stick to my game plan and stay very focused.”

“I want to win a few regional titles and then earn a world title shot. Around this time next year, I’d like to be in some important fights.”

Casal says he owes his apparent resurgence to promoter Greg Cohen, with whom he signed earlier this year.

“He’s a great promoter and does shows in my hometown. I’ve never fought here as a professional. I fought in Buffalo a few times in 2011, but never fought here. That was important to me. People are calling like crazy for tickets. I’m excited to get it on. With the crowd behind me, I’ll be 100% в готовност. I’ve just been waiting for the right guy to help me get to where I want to be. Looks like I found him.”