Anthony Cacace continued his excellent form by achieving a TKO victory in the ninth round against Leigh Wood, who suffered a painful end in his return after a 19-month absence.
Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs), aged 36, secured the victory after forcing a count in the ninth round, and then followed up with a ferocious attack that led Wood’s corner to throw in the towel and stop the clash between two former world champions at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, England.
For the third fight in a row, Cacace defeated a current or former world champion, transforming his career in the last year. Cacace emerged from relative obscurity to win the IBF world title a year ago and then made a defense before relinquishing the belt in January. This was another brilliant performance from the Northern Irishman.
With his height and reach, and in this form, Cacace is a dangerous rival for any of the junior lightweight world champions.
I took this fight purely for money and the money was double that of [IBF mandatory challenger, Eduardo] Nunez, that’s why I was here in Nottingham tonight.
Anthony Cacace
Show me the money, I will travel anywhere, I am 36 years old. I will take that fight [against WBC world champion O’Shaquie Foster] next week.
Anthony Cacace
Queensberry Promotions promoter Frank Warren says Cacace will fight in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland, next.
For Wood (28-4, 17 KOs), the defeat in his junior lightweight debut after a long period of inactivity could make him consider retirement, as he approaches his 37th birthday in August.
I don’t want to make excuses, it was more difficult than usual.
Leigh Wood
I feel like I’m much stronger at featherweight, whereas tonight it felt like a level playing field. There’s no shame in losing to him.
Leigh Wood
I’m not going to make a decision on the spot [about retirement].
Leigh Wood
Wood could not produce his past feats.
Wood knocked out Can Xu in the final round for the WBA world title in July 2021, then did the same to Michael Conlan in the 2022 fight of the year. Afterwards, in his last fight, Wood came back from a losing position to stop former champion Josh Warrington in the seventh round in October 2023.Wood has been inactive since that victory over Warrington due to injuries and a prolonged wait for his junior lightweight debut.
While Wood has been absent, Cacace’s career finally took off. Cacace relinquished the IBF world title he won against Joe Cordina in May 2024 to make the fight with Wood possible. He also unanimously outpointed Warrington in September and that recent activity meant he looked in much better shape than Wood.
Both started boxing from the orthodox stance and focused on establishing their jabs, but in the second round, Cacace was more adventurous by connecting a strong right hand to the forehead.
Cacace, who had a three-inch height advantage and a four-inch reach advantage, broke Wood’s guard with a right uppercut in the third round and then, moments later, landed a left hook.
Two-time featherweight world champion Wood, who was cheered on by his hometown fans in Nottingham, responded with a left hook at the end of the third round, but generally struggled to get close enough to land damaging blows in the early rounds.
Wood produced his best in the fourth round with a more active jab and closed the round with an uppercut. But Cacace regained control and in the sixth round, the Belfast man punished Wood with his long jab and a left uppercut at close range.
Cacace changed his stance and glided across the ring while throwing stinging jabs and accumulating points.
The Northern Irishman sealed the victory when he launched an attack in the ninth round and was too much for Wood, who received a count when he was sent crashing into the ropes after being hit by a short right uppercut and a left hook.
After the count, Cacace followed up with a flurry of punches. After a series of hooks and uppercuts, Cacace unloaded a left hand to the solar plexus that hurt Wood and sent him reeling. As Cacace pursued Wood around the ring to land the KO blow, the Englishman’s corner threw in the towel to stop the fight.
