Kerry Foley on Joel Casey: “This time I have ten rounds to knock him out”

 
THERE was once a point in time where many thought that Kerry Foley would be lost to boxing forever.

 
In the midst of a near three year hiatus, Foley signed to fight a dangerous and at the time world rated Robert Berridge in a twelve round rematch of an initial drawn bout in 2011.

 
“Serious injury and bad management got me away from the sport,” said Foley in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “After leaving trainers continuously, I got over it and lost the passion,”

 
“I started training with Adam and I found it again. After two cage fights we both decided to go back to boxing.”

 
“It’s where I started and it’s where I want to finish,”

 
The pair traded heavy blows and multiple knockdowns. While Foley did not win the return meeting with Berridge, it was the catalyst for a dramatic career turnaround for the big-punching Sydney resident.

 
Just over twelve months removed from that loss, Foley now holds the Australian light heavyweight title.

 
Foley (15-2-1, 12 KOs) earned that honour with a thrilling ten round fight of the year candidate against former Commonwealth Games representative Dane Mulivai.

 
“I’m happy with the way the fight went,” explained Foley. “He was very tough but I outboxed him in every aspect.”

 
“We had tried to organise to fight him in the cage and a lot of shit talk happened,”

 
“I’m glad I put him on his ass a couple times to shut him up,”

 
Unlike his previous two battles with Berridge, which were fought on Wednesday night pay-per-view cards, Foley was placed in the unique position of fighting in the morning.

 
The card preceded the live broadcast of the record breaking Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, which was screened inside the venue following Foley’s title win.

 
“I liked fighting early in the day, you wake up and before you know it you’re in there,” Foley added. “There’s no waiting around, that’s the shit part,”

 
“Not fighting on home turf is always hard but I had good support with the Foley team ringside and my family too.”

 
Having won the Australian title, Foley is planning on successfully defending his strap against Casey (16-14-3, 10 KOs) – a fighter that he has previously beaten by decision – before potentially looking at fights abroad.

 
One particular place that interests Foley is Japan, the country where his trainer Adam Watt is built his own notoriety in the iconic kickboxing platform K-1.

 
“One hundred percent, my trainer is a god over there,” Foley continued. “With his past in K-1, it will be a big thing to have a fight over there under him,”

 
“It would be massive – I want him to relive his past days of fame – he deserves it,”

 
With that said, Foley has business to deal with on Saturday night at the North Sydney Rugby League Club in Cammeray. Providing he deals with Casey, bigger fights await the enigmatic and likeable Foley.

 
“Joel is tough and wants a war,” Foley quipped. “I won on points last time, this time I have ten rounds to knock him out.”

 
Foley’s national title fight against Casey will be the second of two Australian title fights on the card, following a vacant super middleweight title scrap between Faris Chevalier and Pratap Singh.

 
When probed on the importance of the Australian title, Foley was honest in his appraisal of the belt and believes that all Australian’s should aim to hold the national strap.

 
“Every Aussie fighter should think about getting the Australian title first,” said Foley in closing.

 
“It’s your country, you have to be number one here first. I’ve had 17 professional fights and now I have it.”

 
“My first trainer was more interested in getting me overseas for money fights, which backfired and I never worried about domestic belts. But I’m glad I have the belt now,”

 
 
The Foley vs. Casey and Chevalier vs. Singh Australian title doubleheader will be live streamed on Epicentre, costing $14.95

 
 
Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz