By Brock Ellis

MANNY Vlamis endured a classic battle with Joel Casey at the Malvern Town Hall, earning the PABA light-heavyweight title in the process with a devastating left-hook, followed by an onslaught of punches that caused the ringside physician Peter Lewis to stop the contest.

Despite trailing for a majority of the contest, Vlamis was patient as he picked his shots and eventually walked down the WBA #11 world-rated Casey – who has no answer for Vlamis’ relentlessness and deceiving punching-power.

Casey, 27, looked in good form from the opening bell, working his jab and lead-left hand to great effect early on. Vlamis, 29, who is generally known as a slow-starter, was getting lit-up by defending champion. Casey (14-9-3, 9 KOs), was defending his title for only the second-time since he dethroned then WBA #3 world-rated light-heavyweight Tim Bell in a hellacious war just over twelve-months ago in a battle that was voted the Australian Fight of the Year for 2010.

The southpaw Casey was outworking his challenger with fast combinations and seemed to be in cruise control in the opening two-rounds. From all appearances, he was fighting the smarter fight and looked as though he has found his rhythm much earlier than many had expected.

Vlamis backed Casey up against the ropes several times, but really failed to land anything of significance. Clearly behind after three-rounds, Vlamis began to load-up his shots with the intention of catching Casey off-guard.

This tactic proved to be ineffective – that was until the sixth round when Vlamis (11-2, 8 KOs), roared back into contention with a lunging left-hook that forced a stunned Casey onto the ropes and holding on for dear life. Casey was eventually saved by the bell, but was clearly feeling the effects of the Vlamis left-hook, which finally landed on the button after so many near-misses in the earlier rounds.

The ninth-round saw Vlamis again finish well as he shook Casey with two right-hands in the in the closing stages of the round, which forced Casey to rely on solid defence – which by this stage, was starting to slowly elude him.

But as Casey looked to make up the lost ground in the tenth, he was rocked by a solid combination and then floored by a left-hook which looked to have ended the fight.

To the surprise of almost all in the attendance, a clearly stunned Casey somehow made it to his feet without being counted-out. When the action resumed, Casey was greeted by a flurry of hooks from Vlamis, who sensed that the end was near, this was followed with another unanswered shot to the head which effectively ended proceedings as the ringside Physician called for the contest to be waved off.

“I just want to thank Joel Casey for the opportunity tonight – he clearly won the first half of the fight” an elated Vlamis said post-fight. “I always knew I was going to win, just not like that.”

With the victory over Casey now secured, it appears more than likely that Vlamis will defend his title against the leading Australian light-heavyweight in the undefeated Blake Caparello (9-0-1, 4 KOs) – who will challenge for domestic honours next week against the once-beaten Michael Van Nimwegen.

If Caparello proves to be successful, it would seem that a showdown between the two would be almost inevitable. However, a fight with undefeated Kiwi prospect Robert Berridge - who impressed many with his tremendous knockout win over the previously unbeaten Trent Broadhurst last month, also looms as a potential opponent.

As for now, Vlamis can revel in his explosive victory over Casey as the discussions will surely continue over who he faces next.

Follow Brock Ellis on Twitter @brockellis01.