Latest news with #AnthonyCacace
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Retirement is terrifying - but Fury's not done'
Tyson Fury insists he's retired. And if you believe that, you probably haven't been following boxing – or his Instagram profile - for the past he may have meant it. This time it might just all be a strategy. I don't think he's 'Gypsy King' is back in the gym and has been posting clips of himself running and leading us all down a garden path and deep down, I reckon he knows it too. Fury's fire is still burning.I've been in this sport since the age of seven and I've seen it countless times. When a fighter says they're done, sometimes it's just a pause. A chance to breathe, reset, take the pressure off. At other times it's a decision made in the heat of the moment, based on was the case when I laid my gloves in the ring after losing to Anthony Cacace in September.I told my dad in the corner after my third straight defeat that "it's not there any more". I was 100% committed to that decision. I was broken, both physically and mentally. I did a lap of honour and told Eddie Hearn I was next day, on the way home, was the longest and most painful drive of my life. For the next couple of weeks, I'd take my kids to school then come back and get into bed and start boxing isn't just a job to me – it was who I was. It kept me away from trouble, gave me a purpose when others around me didn't have one. So when that part of you suddenly disappears, it's messaged me, even those who admitted they didn't like me, telling me to hold my head up. I watched my fight and realised it wasn't as bad as I thought. At the football, Leeds United fans were stopping me, telling me I wasn't I went back to the gym, started moving again and realised I still had something left. I couldn't go out like that. Boxing buzz, lure of the pound & need for union It's easy to say, "Why don't you just walk away?"But unless you've lived it, you don't understand. The structure of training, the routine, the high of fight week – it's like a drug.I've never touched recreational stuff in my life but I imagine the hit of fight night is not far off. The lights, the adrenaline, the buzz – it's let's not lie – the money matters. Boxing isn't just a passion, it's a business. One punch can change your life and the pay packets? Insane. You've got influencers making millions from novelty if you're a top heavyweight like Fury, what's 36 minutes in the ring when there's eight figures on the line?But that's where it gets dangerous. The damage adds up. You're getting hit in the head. And what does all that money mean when your speech starts to slur or your reactions slow down?That's why I say boxing needs a union. Footballers have the PFA (Professional Footballers' Association). We've got of us come from council estates and broken homes – boxing is a way out. But when it ends, the phone stops ringing. The tax bills roll in. You don't know who to turn to. And that's when some fighters spiral into drink, gambling or depression. A union could help. It could give guidance, investment advice, even set age limits for comebacks. Because let's face it, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson getting back in the ring? That's not a comeback – that's a health risk. This isn't Oasis reforming. This is people getting punched in the for Tyson Fury? He'll be back. And yes, I think the Anthony Joshua fight happens. It's too big not to. Maybe it's not what it once could've been – two unbeaten heavyweights fighting for all the belts – but it still matters. There's still pride, still might take a tune-up or he might dive straight way, I don't believe he's done. Not yet. Not until the lights are off, the gloves hung up for good and he's found something that gives him the same thrill. But believe me, that's the hardest part. I'm not sure anything else will ever come Warrington was speaking to BBC Sport's Kal Sajad.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Anthony Cacace speaks on family and his journey in boxing
Anthony Cacace will travel to enemy territory to defend his IBO super featherweigh t at Motorpoint Arena tomorrow. The Belfast man has seen a late career revival, capturing the IBF super featherweight title last year at 36 years old, which he has since vacated. Speaking to Queensberry Promotions, Cacace (23-1) reflected on his journey in boxing and what it means for his family. Four years ago, Cacace captured his unrecognised IBO world title against Michael Magnesi and believes this was the turning point for his career in terms of recognition. He said: 'Four years IBO champion now, so I'm proud of that. From then, the opportunities kind of unfolded and from Simon [ Legg, his manager ] and whatever else coming on board. Things have worked out well. And now I am in the position that all these young kids around my estate. I love them to be watching and say, 'If he can do it, I can do it.'' The IBO champ recently posted a video to his Instagram showing him with some young fans after a run, and he explained what he felt when confronted with the support he has from his community. Cacace explained: 'I felt emotional. I was like wow, my name, my fathers name, Cacace. My father's Italian you know, he's from Sorrento. It's like I've done something for him and for us – our name is cemented.' He continued: 'It makes me happy, and it's not even because people know me. It's just that I am genuinely inspiring the next generation, and I feel it. I feel like I am too.' Family legacy is of great importance to Cacace. He said that taking this fight with Wood is evidence of his focus on wanting to make his family proud and to be remembered in the sport. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. 'I've made him super proud,' he said. 'I could get emotional now talking about it. It's like my mum, my dad, they've been along the journey with me. All these hard times, and there's been plenty of them.' He added: 'I have accomplished something that's going to live forever. I'm the first Irish, super featherweight champion ever. Anthony Cacace will never be erased from those [history] books and there's nothing that makes me more happy.' Cacace credited his parents with supporting him through financial hardship and making sure that he had what he needed to pursue his dreams and become a champion. Despite insisting this is not the end of the line for him, he admitted he does have one eye on future and being able to spend more time with his family. Cacace said: 'I'm not aiming for a finishing line. It's like, 'Beat Leigh Wood and move on.' Maybe fight for another work title, defend it, and we'll talk then. But I've got three children, and I would love to be able to spend some time with [ them ]. Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Cacace-Wood press conference ends on respectful note as big-time boxing returns to Nottingham
The final press conference before Saturday's card at Nottingham Arena passed with little incident between the headliners today. The card, which is to be headlined by the fight between Leigh Wood and Anthony Cacace for the IBO super-featherweight title, will be shown on DAZN and marks one of the year's biggest domestic showdowns. Promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions said that he and his company were delighted to be putting on an event in Nottingham. Warren said: 'On Saturday night, we're going to see a contender for 'Fight of the Year' between two extremely good boxers. The IBO title is going to be on the line and the winner will go on to be involved in a massive fight this year.' The veteran promoter showered both fighters with praise during the build-up, saying that they were two 'competitive' guys. He added: 'Anto has found his way and shown what he can do when he focuses and knuckles down. He's done that against Cordina and he's done that against Warrington. Leigh is a two-time world champion, and his record speaks for itself.' The pair, Warren said, have wins over the same opponent in Josh Warrington, with Wood stopping the Leeds man and Cacace later beating him on points. 'What's important,' Warren said, 'is that the atmosphere is going to be electric. It's going to be a special, special night in Nottingham. Big-time boxing is back in the city and that is what we're here for. We're here to see the fight of the year.' There was mutual respect between both Cacace and Wood, with Cacace saying that he thought the latter would have come to Belfast if needed. However, he said that the bigger house would have been at the Midlands venue. On the undercard, however, there were some light sparks between light-heavyweights Ezra Taylor and Troy Jones. The undefeated fighters will meet over ten rounds in one of the evening's support bouts. Taylor, 12-0 (8) and from Nottingham, said that his unbeaten run had been because of his work ethic. He said: 'I've had things all my way because that is how it goes – it goes my way. I work hard. I put in the work. Anyone who knows me knows that I graft and put my heart and soul into it. I like Troy – he's a cool guy outside of the ring. But since I know him, I'm going to show people how a professional deals with someone in front of him.' Taylor added: 'Everyone has that confidence, but I'm going to diminish it pretty quick. It's going to be a long night or a very short one. He could be any opponent. They're not going to be able to handle me. It's not arrogance, but confidence.' Jones, 12-0 (6), meanwhile, said he thought he was better in all aspects. He said: 'Taylor's getting moved out of the way on Saturday. He's got his new trainer in Malik Scott, and he thinks he has all these new skills, but he's not using them against me. When it gets deep, he'll find out what the trench is like and he won't like it in there.' Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Leigh Wood: Fight record, stats, next bout and more
Leigh Wood will return to the ring after over eighteen months to challenge Anthony Cacace for the IBO super featherweight title at the Nottingham Arena this weekend. Despite this being Wood's first fight at the super-featherweight limit, a win over Cacace would position him for a shot at one of the 'big four' boxing titles. But it has been far from straight forward for the Nottingham fighter, who has had to pull himself through hard times and setbacks to climb his way to the top table of boxing. Stats Total fights: 31 Record: 28-3 (17 KOs) Rounds: 170 Height: 5' 7' Reach: 67' Early Career Wood made his debut in 2011 and worked his way to a shot at the British super-bantamweight title three years later, suffering a sixth-round knockout loss to Gavin McDonnell. This early setback forced him to re-build, eventually claiming the Midlands Area featherweight title by knocking out Lee Glover in two rounds in 2016. Despite this, Wood was still fighting four- and six-round fights in Midlands small halls before he got his shot at the Commonwealth featherweight title in 2018. After claiming the Commonwealth title and defending it, Wood made the next step up and claimed the WBO European title, beating Ryan Doyle in 2019. Stumbling once again, 'Leigh-thal' lost his European title in 2020 to James Dickens by majority decision. It looked as though it was one step forward and two steps back for Wood – having to bounce back and win the British featherweight title against Reece Mould the next year. World titles In 2021, Wood would receive a career-defining opportunity to challenge for a world title. At the Matchroom HQ Garden in Brentwood, Can Xu's WBA featherweight title was on the line. Wood was a massive underdog coming into the fight, but claimed a dramatic twelfth-round stoppage and his first world title after ten years. But defending a world title is another thing, and Wood's first defence was against Olympic Bronze medallist Michael Conlan in a bout in Nottingham in 2023. Symptomatic of his career, the fight was slipping away from Wood who was dropped in the first round and outboxed for the rest, but he stayed in the fight until the end – rallying in the final round to knock out Conlan in The Ring's 2022 fight of the year. This was not the end of the drama for the Midlands man who suffered a knockout loss of his own against Mauricio Lara in 2023. Five months later, he won an immediate rematch to reclaim his WBA title with a unanimous decision. Woods final fight at featherweight was against his Leeds rival, Josh Warrington, and it was another comeback victory. Down on all three scorecards, he picked a perfect hook followed up by a blistering five-shot combination to put Warrington down and force a referee stoppage.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Who is Anthony Cacace? Fight record, stats, next bout and more
Anthony Cacace returns to action this weekend as one half of the headlining act at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Saturday, May 10. Standing 6ft tall with a reach of 71inches, the Belfast-born fighter may be the A side for the encounter, but he will experience a hostile crowd in full support of hometown hero Leigh Wood. With a 23-1 record (8 KOs) after 13 years of his professional career, Cacace has breached the top levels of British and Irish boxing in the last 18 months. Anthony Cacace's early days as a pro and first setback A talented amateur in his native Northern Ireland, Cacace took the momentum from his 36-8 record in the amateur ranks into his first year as a pro. 2012 remains the busiest year of his career, taking on six fights and winning them all. His schedule eased immediately after the following year, with 'Anto' only taking on two fights, including a win over Osnel Charles in Philidelphia, USA. Having picked up his first belt in the form of the Boxing Union of Ireland super featherweight title in just his fifth fight, Cacace had to wait for his next shot at a championship. It would arrive three years later in 2015, when he defeated Ronnie Clark in Scotland to become the BBBoC Celtic super featherweight champion. That sent Cacace into contention for the British and Commonwealth titles, with the 'Apache' receiving his chance in 2017. Unfortunately for Cacace, the biggest fight of his career ended in defeat. Martin J Ward defeated him to win the British and Commonwealth straps at Wembley Arena by unanimous decision. Set back by the loss, Cacace returned before the end of 2017, defeating journeyman Reynaldo Mora. However, Anto did not take to the ring for the entirety of 2018, a sign of the inactivity that was to come. In 2019, Cacace would re-enter title contention, this time proving successful in his pursuit of the British super-featherweight title. Via split decision, Cacace was victorious over the previously unbeaten Sam Bowen. Now into his 30s, Cacace would be inactive for almost two years. That was because his first defence of his new belt would be postponed four times, thanks to a mixture of injury and illness for both Cacace and his opponent Leon Woodstock. Eventually the fight was made, with Cacace the victor by a unanimous decision at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Anthony Cacace becomes IBO and IBF world champion Just over a year after his first and only defence of his British super featherweight title, Cacace was fighting for a world championship – albeit a minor one. He faced the previously unbeaten Michael Magnesi in Manchester in 2022, winning a tight split decision. That meant he took the IBO super featherweight belt off the hands of the Italian, before putting the title on the line against Damian Wrzesinski in a Belfast homecoming. A far more convincing unanimous decision victory over the Pole cemented Cacace's position as one of the top British and Irish fighters in the division, paving the way for a bout with the division's biggest names. The chance for Cacace to test himself against the best of the super featherweights came in 2024 when he fought unbeaten Welshman Joe Cordina on the undercard of the first Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury fight in Saudi Arabia. Already stunning Cordina with a third-round knockdown, Cacace completed the shock with an eighth-round stoppage – earning himself the first major world title of his career in the form of the IBF super featherweight belt. The story behind Anthony Cacace vacating his IBF title Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing When Cacace takes on Wood this Saturday, May 10, he will only have his IBO world title on the line. That is because the Apache decided to vacate his IBF world championship in order to secure more lucrative fights. The IBF had allowed Anto to remain IBF champion when he fought former featherweight world titleholder Josh Warrington towards the end of 2024. Even though the IBF title would not be on the line, a defeat against Warrington would have seen Cacace lose his belt. Cacace would be victorious over Warrington, but still ended up leaving his belt behind. Anto's reasoning was clear – towards the tail end of his career at 36, the money earned from certain opponents outweighed the potential earnings from title defences. As such, Cacace has elected to fight Wood, rather than face his mandatory challenger Eduardo Nunez. Anthony Cacace record Nationality: Northern Irish Age: 36 Height: 6' 0" Reach: 71" Total fights: 24 Record: 23-1 (8 KOs) Sign up to a DAZN subscription to watch the very best boxing DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. It is not just about fight night, a DAZN membership also includes access to documentaries and features, weekly magazine shows, live fight watchalongs, press conferences, weight-ins, open workouts, exclusive interviews and access to training camps, and podcasts and vodcasts.
