Cacace Vacates IBF Title, Eyes Big Fights, Possibly Wood

by


Anthony Cacace has announced that he plans to vacate his IBF super featherweight title to seek out “the biggest fights possible” and secure his family’s future.

Wood Awaits?

This move wasn’t unexpected, as there’s been talk of Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) facing former two-time WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood next. That fight would go over big in the UK, where both guys have a large following and can make good money selling out an arena or a stadium. DAZN would likely show on their platform.

Wood isn’t highly thought of by U.S. fans, who mostly see him as a guy who was maneuvered into a title twice by his clever promoter but was unable or unwilling to hold onto it. He initially won the WBA 126-lb title from Xu Can, winning a 12-round unanimous decision on July 31, 2021.

Wood lost the title two years later to Maurcio Lara by a seventh-round knockout on February 18, 2023. He recaptured the WBA belt by beating a weight-drained Lara in the rematch in May 2023. Wood’s promoters were pretty clever to line him up for a speedy rematch with Lara just three months after losing the title.

They took advantage of Lara enjoying his brief stint as the WBA champion, and he was cleverly not ready to defend it just three months later. That was classic maneuvering being done for Wood because he likely would have lost by knockout again if Lara had more time to prepare.

Nunez avoided

If Cacace, 35, had kept his IBF belt, he would have had to defend against his mandatory Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) in a fight he would have had very little chance of winning. Nunez would have surely destroyed Cacace with his power, pressure, and youth.

“Becoming World champion was an absolute dream and an incredibly proud moment for me. However, at this stage of my career, I only want the biggest fights possible, regardless of the belt on the line,” said Anthony Cacace on X, choosing to vacate his IBF super featherweight title rather than face his dangerous mandatory Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez.

“I’m a prizefighter and my aim now is to secure mine and my family’s future and to create a legacy for myself in boxing by being involved in massive fights that fans will remember. Look forward to announcing my next fight soon. Watch this space,” said Cacace.




Leave a Comment