Boxer brutally beaten with golf club

NIAGARA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A brutal beating left a local boxer with gruesome head injuries. The junior welterweight boxer from Niagara Falls claims a man from Buffalo attacked him with a golf club.

Ray Casal is just thankful his son, Nick, is still alive after he was attacked over the weekend. The 26-year-old Casal is a junior welterweight boxer who has been training for the fight of his life: a shot at the title, next month.

But Saturday morning, the hometown athlete was beaten over the head with a weapon, possibly a golf club, leaving deep, wide gashes and Nick Casal near death.

"This was a beating with the intent to hurt him, to kill him. It is miraculous. A lot of people prayed for my son. Someone was definitely watching him that night. Because what I saw when I saw him, I can't believe he survived the attack. It was brutal," said Ray.

Authorities say the attack took place at private residence on Portland Street in the Town of Niagara. Casal's attacker then fled the scene and is considered a person of interest.

Ray said Nick had just started dating a new girlfriend, and believes the attacked was the girlfriend's ex.

"He didn't know the guy, he had no prior knowledge of this man," said Ray. "He was just in the wrong place with the wrong person at the wrong time. Unfortunately, it could happen to anyone."

Nick Casal was all set to challenge world champion Ruslan Provodnikov on national TV June 29th in his hometown at the Seneca Niagara Events Center. That is now on hold and Ray has no doubt the man who nearly killed his son will be captured.

Ray said, "They are going to find. He is a very dangerous individual. He is evidently very dangerous. They are doing the best they can. They will capture him and prosecute him."

Ray said Nick is in fair condition at ECMC with lots of stitches. Town of Niagara police met with prosecutors in the Niagara County DA's office, and they have identified a person of interest.