Keller boxer Rafael Casias seeks redemption

by Sean Malone of North Texas Fisticuffs

When Keller based flyweight Rafael Casias climbed into the ring to face the highly touted Joel Hernandez of Fort Worth on the undercard of Galvan Promotions boxing card last May few gave the unheralded Casias much of a chance. After all, Hernandez had built a reputation and huge fan following due in large part to his stellar amateur credentials. But as the bell rung to signal the start of the fight something special took place, call it a fistic masterpiece, but Casias and Hernandez waged a war of beautiful brutality. For two rounds, both fighters tore into each other with unabashed tenacity, neither fighter resigning himself to allow his opponent the satisfaction of victory. Hernandez would eventually get the better of Casias, landing a vicious hook at the end of the second round that caused a halt to the contest but in defeat Casias earned something nearly as important, respect.

Tonight Casias seeks redemption as he takes on Hernandez in a rematch of their acclaimed first encounter. Casias and Hernandez will be one of the featured undercard bouts on the Galvan Promotions live boxing card taking place at the Eddie Deen's Ranch in Dallas. For Casias, the opportunity to extract revenge on the man who gave him his second professional loss is one that he has been hoping for since the end of their last encounter.

“Well, to begin with, I wanted this fight the day I walked off that canvas the first time we fought,” Casias explains. This time, I trained a whole lot more on my own. I still worked a whole lot with Jabbar Hurd who cornered me last time, and he is my main sparring partner. I just think it’s going to be a whole different fight this time. I’m way more focused. I think the nerves killed me last time and I’m a whole different fighter. This training on my own, knowing what he’s got and what he’s capable of, I think that is going to help me this time.”

Hurd, a slick, classic stylist, has been giving Casias exemplary work in the gym and for the 28 year-old fighter such training is both encouraging and empowering. “[Hurd] helps me because he can go all different styles on me. We trained for this fight to be able to box on the inside, to be able to box from the outside and anything [Hernandez] throws at me, we’ll be ready.”

But being “ready” is a task easier said than done for Casias who spends his days juggling a staggering workload. In between training for his own fight, Casias is a personal trainer at the LA Boxing in Keller in addition to operating his own fighter management company. The decision to start a fighter management company was born not out of financial enterprising but rather out of necessity.

“When I started fighting I couldn’t get any fights,” Casias explains. “I started working with Johnny Bedford over at LA Boxing and he was having the same problems. I’m really a people person, and I’m really good at meeting people and making new contacts so I started my own management company called Wreck1 Fight Management. I now manage about six different guys around the country.”

Casias believes his experience as a competing fighter will serve him well as a representative for fellow fighters. “Me being a fighter helps me be a manager because I know what the fighters are thinking. I work for them and I try to get as much as I can for them in terms of financial benefits, sponsors, and stuff like that. I just don’t want to see good guys get screwed over. I’m not saying all promoters are like that, but it can happen.”

Despite a number of obligations that would seem to be distracting to an individual preparing for a fight filled with emotion Casias explains that his mind is focused on the task at hand and this time the outcome will be different. “I think the difference maker this time is going to be me being calmer and not nervous,” Casias says. “I’m going in there with a lot more confidence. To take nothing away from Joel, he’s a tough fighter but I think I can out-box him, inside and out.”

And as if redemption was not enough fuel for Casias to show up at his best, an even stronger, more passionate dedication is providing even greater motivation. “I’m dedicating this fight to my daughter Kallista,” Casias proudly states. “Saturday is her birthday and she is turning eight. This fight is for her.”