Anthony Cacace demonstrated his excellent form by defeating Leigh Wood by TKO in the ninth round, marking a painful end to Wood’s return after a 19-month absence.
Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs), aged 36, secured the victory after forcing a count in the ninth round, followed by a ferocious attack that compelled Wood’s corner to throw in the towel and stop the fight between two former world champions at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.
For the third fight in a row, Cacace defeated a reigning world champion 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 opponent 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] Núñez, 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, in his next fight.
For Wood (28-4, 17 KOs), the defeat in his junior lightweight debut after a long absence 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 I felt it was 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 has been unable to produce his past feats. He has not been in action since his victory over Warrington due to injuries and a prolonged wait for his junior lightweight debut.
While Wood has been absent, Cacace’s career took off belatedly. Cacace relinquished the IBF world title he won against Joe Cordina in May 2024 so that the fight with Wood could take place. He also outpointed Warrington in September and that recent activity meant he looked much sharper 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 powerful 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 moments later connected with a left hook.
Wood, a two-time featherweight world champion, 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 went on the 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 backward. As Cacace pursued Wood across the ring to land the knockout blow, the Englishman’s corner threw in the towel to stop the fight.
