In one of the upsets of 2024, Anthony Cacace was able to claim super-featherweight gold and assume the position as much-needed man to get behind in the proud fighting city of Belfast. Now, the Ulsterman is poised to return for what will be a second defence of his world title.
Cacace was able to dramatically knock out Joe Cordina on the Fury-Usyk undercard back in May, handing the Welshman a first career defeat and dethroning the man whom many deemed to be the top player in the 130lb division.
The moment Anthony Cacace became a World Champion 🙌#FuryUsyk | #RingOfFire | #RiyadhSeasonpic.twitter.com/pteDtcl2vF
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 19, 2024
On yet another mammoth card, this time at Wembley Stadium, ‘The Apache’ made a first defence of his world title against two-time featherweight champion Josh Warrington, dominating the contest from the opening rounds onwards and proving that his victory over Cordina was no fluke with unanimous-decision win.
In the two months that have passed since, it has become clear that Cacace must face IBF mandatory challenger Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez (28-1), a well-respected Mexican who has stopped his opponent in each of his 28 career wins.
As a result, Cacace has been rumoured to be considering a move up in weight to the lightweight division, hopeful that his IBF strap would enable him a lucrative challenge against pound-for-pound superstar Vasyl Lomachenko.
However, after the purse bids for Cacace’s meeting with Nunez were continuously pushed back, it was revealed that Thursday’s purse bids for the clash had been cancelled.
According to Uncrowned Combat, this is because a deal has been reached between the pair to stage a fight, rendering the purse bids unnecessary.
It remains to be seen whether Cacace-Nunez could see Cacace fight on a third consecutive ‘Riyadh Season’ card or whether he will headline his own card in a homecoming event in Belfast, or if such a proposal would be better suited to a possible meeting with Nottingham fan-favourite Leigh Wood.
Regardless of Belfast’s prowess as one of the greatest boxing cities on the planet, a Northern Irishman has not won a world title contest in the capital since Ryan Burnett’s 2017 win over Zhanat Zhakiyanov, with Paddy Barnes and Jamie and Michael Conlan each being knocked out in the three world title fights in their hometown since.
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