Casey, a 35-year-old with a 4-2 bare-knuckle record, called his opponent a capable fighter during a recent interview. Dallas Davison has a 5-4 record, but Casey emphasized that all of Davison's fights have ended early without lasting through the final round.
A fighter on a winning run
Casey is coming off a three-fight winning streak, which includes a first-round TKO victory over David Sanchez in December and a unanimous decision win against Zeb Vincent in March. That fight featured several knockdowns and highlighted Casey's dominance in the middleweight class.
Training in Springfield under coach Mike Rodriguez, Casey has not altered his preparation plan. He said the same approach that has worked well is being used again. “We're just building on the progress we've made,” Casey said.
A big fight at Fenway
The Aug. 29 event at Fenway Park marks the end of Casey's current contract with his bare-knuckle promotion. Officials from the promotion have said a strong performance could position him for a potential title shot, suggesting that a standout showing might lead to a world title opportunity.
Casey said the idea of a title bout has been discussed since a recent press conference. “I’m just focused on doing what I need to and seeing where it goes.”
Balancing education and fighting
Outside the ring, Casey manages a career in education and family life as a husband and father. His children are big fans of his career, even if Casey jokes that being a dad sometimes makes him less cool than he’d like.
His wife plans to attend the event in Boston, but may continue a recent pattern of watching from the hotel rather than the ringside area. Still, Casey’s family will be in attendance to support him.
Competing at Fenway Park, Casey said, is a highlight for a lifelong Red Sox fan. “They’re setting up the ring where home plate is,” Casey said. “It’s really something special.” He also hopes a successful event might bring big fights closer to home in Springfield. “A big fight here would be great,” Casey added.