Latest news with #CacaceWood
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Anthony Cacace vs Ryan Garner - could twice cancelled fight be on the cards later this year?
Anthony Cacace may be fully focused on this weekend's bout with Leigh Wood, but there are always thoughts about what comes next for a fighter. A late bloomer and now 36, a shock technical knockout win over Joe Cordina to secure the IBF world super featherweight title last year has catapulted Cacace into the big time of British and Irish boxing. Prior to his world title shot, Cacace had been set to face fellow super featherweight Ryan Garner until that proposed bout fell through twice. With both men set to fight in the coming months, perhaps the duo will finally meet inside the ring. Cacace vs Garner cancellations have worked out for both parties In April 2022, Ryan Garner accepted the chance to step in on short notice to fight Anthony Cacace, only for the bout to fall through. A further meeting was scheduled for November 2023 but fell apart after Cacace injured his wrist. That proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Belfast fighter, who would be offered the chance to take on Joe Cordina for the IBF super featherweight world title the following year. Garner has since admitted that perhaps an earlier fight with Cacace would have proven to be a fool's errand. In fact, the man nicknamed the Piranha believed it was a bullet dodged. He told Queensbury Promotions' media: "I was the one that wanted that fight with Cacace, but now that I look back on it, it could have been too soon. Well, it would have been too soon, because I'm a different fighter now. So, I'm glad it never happened. Me being a fighter, I want the biggest fights, I want the biggest paydays, I want the chances. But now that I'm a bit older, more mature, I think that was too soon. With the benefit of time, Garner now feels differently. "At the time,' he says, 'I was like, 'I'm ready for this'. But now I look back and I've seen myself in the gym, and how physically much stronger I am now, a different head on my shoulders. That Ryan Garner isn't the Ryan Garner that is here today." Having avoided a potential loss in the form of Cacace, Garner has maintained his unbeaten record – with the Piranha now 17-0. Cacace is at a stage in his career where he wants the biggest fights possible, having eschewed defences of his IBF world super featherweight title in order to face Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood. In comparison, Garner is on the precipice of breaking into the world title picture, and whilst he may not carry the name power of Cacace's recent opponents, he can sell out an arena. The Piranha headlined a show at the Bournemouth International Centre in March, with thousands of his fans travelling from neighbouring Southampton to support their man. Garner's promoter Frank Warren has hinted that his fighter will return to Bournemouth in the summer in a possible defence of his recently acquired EBU super featherweight belt. According to the EBU, Garner is in private negotiations with James Dickens over a potential bout. A successful defence of his EBU crown would further increase Garner's stock and leave enough time in the final months of 2025 to arrange a fight with Cacace. Garner has long spoken about fighting at the home of his beloved Southampton FC, St. Mary's, and a fight with Cacace would draw a huge crowd to the Premier League stadium. Cacace has also shown that he is willing to enter hostile territory to fight, as evidenced by this weekend's bout in Wood's backyard of Nottingham. 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
- Business
- The Independent
Where does Cacace vs Wood fit into the super featherweight Landscape?
Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood return to the ring on Saturday at the Nottingham Arena for a super featherweight showdown, live on DAZN. This will be Wood's first fight at super featherweight after struggling for some time to make the 126lbs limit. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Cacace recently vacated his IBF belt. He believes fighting Wood instead of the mandatory for his former title, Eduardo 'Sugar' Nunez will be beneficial for his future in the sport. 'The Apache' told BBC Sport: 'I feel like it's a better decision to vacate for my future to create a legacy in this sport, and for my name to be remembered for big fights.' Whatever outcome arises from this weekend's bout in Nottingham will grossly impact the careers of both former champions. The IBO title Cacace acquired the IBO belt in 2022, and it will be on the line against Wood, but due to the relationship between the IBO and the 'big four' organisations, it will have little to no bearing on the ability of the winner to unify with other belts. The IBO are excluded from the agreement between WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC that a champion from the 'big four' can bypass the rankings in order to unify the titles. Rankings Cacace is ranked as the number three super featherweight by The Ring behind O'Shaquie Foster and Emmanuel Navarette. He also holds the minor IBO title, so a victory against a former featherweight title holder in Wood will position Cacace as a world-level contender and potentially open up an opportunity for him to eventually challenge again forhis former IBF title. Cacace told Boxing Scene: 'It's the big fights now, but, you know, the winner of me and Wood – which will be myself – will box for a world title. I don't know [who it will be against yet], but you'll find out pretty soon.' 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. It is a different story for Wood. After over eighteen months out of the ring, he may not have any rankings in his new division, but he carries the status of his former WBA featherweight title. A win against the former IBF champion may pave the way for a shot at a world title or a favourable ranking. The 130 lbs division is headed by three champions: O'Shaquie Foster (WBC), Emmanuel Navarrete (WBO) and Lamont Roach (WBA). Foster (29-3) recaptured his world title at the end of the 2024, beating Robson Conceicao by split decision in a rematch. Navarette (39-2-1) beat Oscar Valdez to claim the WBO title in December last year, knocking out the Mexican in the sixth round. He is set to defend his title against Charly Suarez on the same night Wood and Cacace will fight. In his last fight, Roach (25-1-2), moved up to the lightweight division to challenge for Gervonta 'Tank' Davis' WBA title, but the fight ended a draw. A rematch is rumoured. In the super featherweight division, Roach beat Hector Luis Garcia to become WBA champion in 2023. Against this backdrop, a win for Cacace would solidify his standing as one of the top contenders and potentially open up another world title opportunity in the twilight of his career. For Wood, a successful move to super featherweight could fast-track him into rankings with a win over the vacated IBF champion and as the former WBA featherweight champion. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription 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. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Show me the money' – Anthony Cacace celebrates with a cigar in the ring after landing huge pay day with Leigh Wood win
ANTHONY CACACE celebrated in style as he snatched his latest world-champion scalp with a ninth-round stoppage of Leigh Wood. The pair of 36-year-olds clashed at super-featherweight at Woods' local Nottingham arena. 4 4 4 But the Belfast beast - who beat Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington in his previous two outings - overpowered his fellow veteran just before the championship rounds. He marked the money-spinning win by posing in the ring with his team, Frank Warren and some big cigars. Forest fan Wood had got his jab firing off quickly, tagging Cacace to head and body. But the Northern Ireland ace was clever and spiteful, slashing right hands in, when Wood dared get too close. Cacace settled into the second and started to land his left hooks. But, right on the bell, Wood rolled under an attack and seemed to crack his rival with a perfect left hook. Wood's double jabs in the third were crisp and caused switch-hitter Cacace to turn southpaw for the first time. It was a nip-and-tuck affair until Cacace took over and in round nine he put one foot on Wood's neck and the other on the accelerator. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 A left hook robbed Wood of his balance and his soul. And trainer Ben Davison expertly threw in his white towel, to save his man, and spark wild celebrations back in Andytown. The former world champ, who relinquished his title to face Wood, said: "I took this fight purely for money. "It was for double what the world title defence of my old belt would have been. "I am 36 now, so 'Show me the Money!'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cacace stops Wood in brutal ninth round to retain title
Belfast's Anthony Cacace retained his IBO super-featherweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of Leigh Wood at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday. It was a gripping battle between the two 36-year-olds, which appeared on a knife-edge until Cacace made the big breakthrough and he was in no mood to let the home favourite off the hook. Wood is noted for his powers of recovery, highlighted by his remarkable come-from-behind victory over Michael Conlan three years ago in the same venue. But this time it was beyond him with Cacace ruthlessly closing the show as Wood's corner threw in the towel just as it seemed referee John Latham was about to wave it off. After the victory, the Northern Irishman's record now stands at 24 wins and one defeat from 25 fights. Wood began confidently off the jab as he sought to assert himself, but was snapped back on a couple of occasions from Cacace's right hands and again towards the end of the opener as there was a sense both men could land something decisive. Neither could afford to get reckless as there was clear respect between the pair, but Wood walked into a right hand in the second round which made him think twice. But he did get his best shot off in the dying seconds as he found a home for his own right hand which brought a respectful nod from Cacace. They landed simultaneously in the third before Cacace appeared to make the first bit of a dent as he got through with one of his trademark uppercuts. After briefly switching to southpaw, he thumped home a left hand which seemed to drive Wood back, but was caught late in the round when missing the target and punished by a counter. There was an air of tension as the fight proceeded, although Wood enjoyed a good fourth round as he found his range. It remained on a knife-edge in the fifth with Cacace's stiff jab rocking Wood's head back, but the Nottingham man responded well to have his own success. Cacace grabbed some momentum with a good sixth round as he got through with another uppercut and seemed to be opening up by putting punches together, but was caught in the seventh when switching stances. Early in the eighth, Cacace suffered a setback with blood beginning to pour from his nose, but Wood was made to eat a solid left up close as they began to trade blows late on. The Englishman sought a fast start to the ninth round but it proved his undoing. Perhaps getting a little too excited, he left himself exposed and Cacace pounced and a strong right hand appeared to have a delayed impact as Wood stumbled backwards and, with the ropes keeping him up, referee Latham gave a count. Cacace didn't let him off the hook as he meticulously broke Wood's resistance, thudding home some punishing shots and the towel came in from his corner to save him from an inevitable KO. Earlier, Lisburn's Kurt Walker tasted defeat for the first time as he was outpointed by Liam Davies in their battle for the vacant IBF International featherweight title. The scorecards read 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 in favour of Englishman Davies on his return to action after his own maiden defeat on points by Shabaz Masoud last November at super-bantamweight. This time, the 29-year-old managed to get the job done in a close contest, despite a good final push from Walker.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cacace vs Wood: Live updates and results, 2 pm ET
Anthony Cacace vs Leigh Wood headlines today from Nottingham | Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood return today, headlining a Matchroom Boxing DAZn card from Nottingham, England. Cacace will be defending a minor 130 lb title against Wood, who has the home field advantage, in what could spark to be a terrific action fight. The card also features several solid domestic-level matchups at 175, 126, and 147 lbs. Advertisement Join us from 2 pm ET for live updates and results from the full card on DAZN! Main Card (DAZN, 2:00 pm ET) Anthony Cacace (23-1, 8 KO) vs Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KO), lightweights, 12 rounds Ezra Taylor (11-0, 8 KO) vs Troy Jones (12-0, 6 KO), light heavyweights, 10 rounds Liam Davies (16-1, 8 KO) vs Kurt Walker (12-0, 2 KO), featherweights, 12 ounds Owen Cooper (10-1, 4 KO) vs Chris Kongo (17-2, 7 KO), welterweights, 10 rounds Sam Noakes (16-0, 14 KO) vs Patrik Balaz (13-4-1, 5 KO), super lightweights, 8 rounds More from
