Anthony Cacace vs Leigh Wood

The Nottingham Motorpoint arena on Saturday May 10 will host a thrilling confrontation between IBO super featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace and the local hero Leigh Wood, the former two-time WBA world featherweight champion.

It is the domestic blockbuster of the division, with Wood stepping up in a bid to become a two-weight world champion against the Belfast star who is enjoying a glorious conclusion to his career.

Also featuring on the card, with many additions to be confirmed, is the WBC International light heavyweight champion Ezra Taylor, who will be fighting in his home city for the first time since his professional debut in 2020.

Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) became British champion at super featherweight in November 2019 with a split decision win over reigning champion Sam Bowen in Birmingham. He was subsequently signed by Frank Warren and defended his belt successfully against Lyon Woodstock in 2021.

His IBO world title opportunity came in September 2022 when he took on the undefeated champion Michael Magnesia in Manchester and victory came via split decision in a fight it is widely considered he won clearly. He defended the belt in Belfast against Damian Wrzesinski in May 2023, winning by unanimous decision.

The major breakthrough came in Riyadh in May of last year when he entered into a unification against IBF world champion Joe Cordina. The Welshman was put down in the third round and largely overwhelmed before the fight was stopped in the eighth.

Cacace later defended his IBO title at Wembley Stadium in October when he took on former two-time featherweight world champion Josh Warrington and outpointed the Leeds man.

Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) is he former two-time WBA featherweight champion of the world.

The 36-year-old from Nottingham became WBA champion in July 2021 when he overwhelmed the feared Chinese force Can Xu during the Covid-19 restrictions and successfully defended the belt in an epic confrontation with Irish Olympian Michael Conlan at the Nottingham Arena.

Back in Nottingham nearly a year later, it was Wood who suffered a stoppage against the big-hitting Mexican Mauricio Lara before regaining his title status with a decision triumph over Lara.

He took on Leeds rival and former IBF world champion Josh Warrington in Sheffield back in October 2023. The champion responded to a strong Warrington start in the seventh round with a brutal combination that sent Warrington spiralling to the canvas and he didn’t recover sufficiently for the referee to allow him to continue.

Wood, who lost out in a British title challenge against Gavin McDonnell at super bantamweight in 2014, won the Midlands Area belt featherweight in 2016 and became Commonwealth champion in 2019, making one defence, before winning the WBO European title.

A big turning point in his career came with his teaming up with trainer Ben Davison and subsequently becoming British featherweight champion with victory over the previously unbeaten Reece Mould.

https://queensberry.co.uk/pages/the-hurt-game

i hope anthony pulls the win off. leigh coming off over a year & a half inactivity

I am/was a big Leigh Wood fan. His fights against Conlan and Warrington were exciting and he was on fire. One of the most exciting British champions at that time.

Since the failure to secure a rematch against Warrington he has not been active and there must be a reason for all that.

Cacace cinderella story makes me want him to retain his title.

Good and intriguing contest to watch. May the best man win.

Taylor v Jones are both unbeaten at light heavyweight and in an excellent contest against one another.

Ezra Taylor wins by UD and remains unbeaten. Good contest and he has some good domestic fights for him.

Aggressive start from Wood but Cacace looks bigger and dangerous.

Cacace won the third round by countering Wood very smartly.

Wood wins fourth round countering sharply.

Cacace back in control in the 6th with some hurtful counters.

4-2 Cacace

Nice 6th for Cacace who resembles a long-lost Irish cousin of Caleb Plant. Nice fast pace fight this one.

Wood going hard to the body now as he is trying to get back into the fight in round 8.

Cacace knocks down Wood in the 9th and had him badly hurt before the corner threw the towel in.

Cacace would not be denied, went straight in for the finish and stuck to the body. Very sneaky uppers, both hands churning with them. Tough nail Wood, as usual, glad his corner was on the look out there.

Both boxers have been respectful of one another throughout the build up of this.

Entertaining fight and Cacace is on a great run.

Cacace v Conlon would be a great occasion and easy win for him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master

Both boxers have been respectful of one another throughout the build up of this.

Entertaining fight and Cacace is on a great run.

Cacace v Conlon would be a great occasion and easy win for him.

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Homecoming fight of sorts? Warren sounds determined to have one.

Another example of boxings mysterious ways here. Both sit at 36 years of age and literally going in two different directions. Retirement talk and end of the line talk around Wood. And Cacace at 36 having finally arrived looking top notch and with major title opportunities straight ahead. May need to drop that IBO strap for a go at Foster, Navarrete also defending his 130 tonight and struggled making weight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIpVSxMPmek

Entertaining fight. Deserved winner, although Wood never said it, but in the 9th when he started running away, I reckon he was looking at the ref for a low blow, and when the ref never gave it, he was fucked.
Don’t expect any unifications. He got double the money for an IBO belt than he would’ve for his IBF belt that he gave up.
Warren wants a homecoming in Belfast , and at Cacace’s age and clearly financially based is a no brainer.
So it probably will be Conlan. Good luck to the guy.

Woods still got a lil' game, his body just ain't built like it used to be. Cacace played it smart, grabbin' that dough instead of gettin' wrecked by Sugar Nunez