Just over two years ago Anthony Cacace sat desolate at the Hilton Hotel, under the shadow of the famous Wembley Stadium arch. His fight on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s world title defense against Dillian Whyte had been canceled at the last minute.

An undoubted talent plagued by bad fortune, it began to look like Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs) would never get the chance to show his ability at the highest level.

Cacace kept plugging away and this June, the 35-year-old was finally given a shot at IBF super featherweight champion, Joe Cordina, in Saudi Arabia. For once things went to plan. Both fighters made it to the ring in one piece and, once there, Cacace performed brilliantly and tore the title away from the Welshman with a stunning eighth round knockout. 

“How my career has actually panned out from start to now is just mind blowing,” Cacace told Queensberry. “I feel like now it was all meant to be. Fights falling through, injuries blah, blah, blah. To lead me to Saudi Arabia, it feels like it was just meant to be.”

Although he probably won’t believe it is happening until he begins his ring walk on Sept. 21, Cacace will finally get the chance to fight at London's Wembley Stadium when he makes the first defense of his title against former two-time featherweight champion, Josh Warrington. 

Warrington (31-3, 8 KOs) was only confirmed as Cacace’s opponent a few hours before the press conference to officially announce the massive event – which will be headlined by the all British IBF heavyweight title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua – and although the Irishman was delighted when “The Leeds Warrior” took the fight, he revealed that he had never previously considered him as a potential rival.

“No, not really. I would have watched him for years now. I would have watched him fight Carl [Frampton] and [Lee] Selby. Most of his fights I would have watched,” Cacace said. “He’s value for money for viewers. He brings the fight. He’s got a big heart and a big set of balls and he wants to come and fight so I think he’s the best type of fight for a show like this. I’m just very grateful to be in the ring with these caliber of fighters. I’m just taking it in my stride.

“Stylistically, he’s perfect. He’s all action. He’ll come forward. If I want to fight him, I can fight him. If I want to box him, I can box him. I feel like if I stayed switched on and have a good camp and everything goes smooth, I should win that fight, but he was a two-time world champion. I don’t look over anybody, but I feel his style is made for me.”

Cacace’s knockout ratio is one of the most deceiving statistics in the sport. Only eight of his 22 victories have come inside the distance but, on the circuit, he is renowned as a hurtful, bone-bruising puncher. Warrington has been stopped by Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood at featherweight in recent years, and although he will be better suited to 130 pounds at this stage of his career, he will need to be defensively aware for every second the fight lasts.

“I don’t know how he feels about the power, but I know that I’m heavy-handed,” Cacace said. “Probably one of the heaviest in the division. Josh will have to respect it because he’s going to be feeling it in a couple of weeks’ time.

“I’m at the stage of my career where I’ll die in there trying to win this fight. Josh is confident and he’s never been beaten by an Irish fighter. Maybe this is his first time."

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79