It’s one of those situations that is so sad and unnecessary that you shake your head and wonder about man’s inhumanity towards man. Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal is a professional boxer with an impressive 22-4-1 record and was set to fight Ruslan Provodnikov for the World Boxing Organization’s intercontinental title in his hometown of Niagara Falls next month. The fight was cancelled, however, after Casal was jumped and beaten close to death by the ex-boyfriend of an ex-girlfriend. The assailant, Michael P. Vicki, 30, of Niaagra, was picked up by police on Friday and is being held without bail on a charge of first degree assault, a Class B felony.

The Niagara Falls Gazette reported that “...Vicki’s arrest follows an altercation last Saturday on Portland Street where Casal suffered severe injuries after being hit several times by an unknown object. Police believe Casal was knocked unconscious during the assault, but regained consciousness and was driven from the crime scene to his home. He was later taken to ECMC where he was treated for four serious wounds, including an almost foot-long gash on the side of his head. Hours after the assault, Casal’s father, Ray, told the AP that his son suffered, in addition to the gashes on his head, a chipped tooth and severely swollen, but not broken, arm. Ray Casal said his son was struck 15 times in the head and body.”

Casal is a 5’7 junior welterweight who is described as “...explosive, mercurial, and downright exciting to watch.”  Casal earned the bronze medal at the United States Championships 2004 and the gold medal at the 2002 U.S. Junior National Championships and at the Sweden Box-Cup for under 19 fighter, according to Boxing360.com.

Here’s to a quick recovery for Casal, the pride of the Cataract City.

Photo from bossip.com.