Vasyl Lomachenko knocked out George Kambosos Jr. earlier this year in one of the standout performances of 2024, regaining a lightweight world title to end an almost four-year spell without a belt to his name. Since then, ‘Loma’ has shut down rumours of a showdown with Gervonta Davis and news surrounding the Ukrainian has gone quiet. Yet, the three-weight world champion could be set to return against a Brit next year.
Anthony Cacace also boasts a memorable performance in 2024 after upsetting the odds to halt IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina in May and on Saturday night he followed up that display with a comfortable points victory over two-time world champion Josh Warrington.
Although, if he is to keep hold of his IBF world title, the Northern-Irishman will be forced to defend the strap in a tricky mandatory defence against Mexico’s Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez before March 21st, 2025.
After witnessing Cacace’s victory over Warrington, a confident Nunez publicly called out the champion on the Matchroom Boxing social media accounts and declared that it is time to take care of business.
Time is ticking, @AntoC6 ⏰
Sugar Nunez is ready 👊 pic.twitter.com/ao8jbsaXVI
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 24, 2024
“Congratulations, Cacace on your win. You achieved your objective and so did I. It is time to put our cards on the table and take care of business. Everyone knows that the next step is Cacace vs. Nunez. I hope our fight is made soon.”
However, the fighting pride of Belfast has appeared to have eyes elsewhere since the victory over Warrington, instead indicating that he will move up to lightweight in the hopes of securing a mammoth opportunity against IBF lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, in an interview with BBC Sport NI.
“If I move up to lightweight, I’m the mandatory challenger for Lomachenko’s title. We’re just going to have to see. It’s all in my hands. I’m in the driving seat.
“We’ll see what the future holds.”
As for Lomachenko, the much-lauded amateur sensation has revealed that he is currently lacking motivation and that he will sit out the remainder of 2024, meaning that he will likely need a ‘tune-up’ fight in 2025 before heading into any possible unification contests against Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson.
At 35-years-old and naturally big for the weight, this current landscape could prove to be ideal timing for Cacace – who could land the opportunity to face Lomachenko in his next outing if he confirms a move up to 135lbs in the near future.
Cacace could possibly even bring the fan-favourite champion to Belfast in a homecoming at the SSE Arena – for what would be ‘Loma’s’ second bout in the United Kingdom – amid rumours that he is keen to return home.
Although, despite the fact that Cacace believes that a move to lightweight would see him become the mandatory challenger, William Zepeda currently holds this position and could intervene, but rumours that the Mexican will opt to pursue the WBC route and face off with Shakur Stevenson will be music to Cacace’s ears.
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