Anthony Cacace claims that the winner of his scheduled bout with Leigh Wood will fight for world honors next.
Cacace will face Wood on Saturday at the Motorpoint Arena in Wood’s home city of Nottingham, England. Northern Ireland’s Cacace will enter the contest as the favorite after an impressive 2024, which saw him defeat Joe Cordina for the IBF junior featherweight title and then defend the belt against Josh Warrington.
Wood has been inactive since vacating his WBA featherweight title after a successful defense over Warrington in October 2023. The plan was for Wood to move up to challenge Cacace for his junior lightweight title, but Cacace was then ordered by the IBF to make a mandatory defense against Eduardo Nunez.
Talks between the two parties began, but eventually Cacace decided to vacate his title in favor of a domestic dust-up with Wood. Some were surprised with Cacace’s decision to vacate after only one defense, but the 36-year-old was open about the reason behind his decision.
“Financially, it was a no-brainer, do you know what I mean?” Cacace told BoxingScene. “It's double the money for Leigh [compared to Nunez], and if you get offered a job and it's double the money, it's kind of. … You know, it may have been different if I was 28, but I'm 36, and the road's getting shorter, so it's time to capitalize.”
Cacace may have given up his world championship for a better payday with Wood, but he said that should he win Saturday, he expects another shot at a belt right around the corner.
“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,” he said. “I don't know [who it will be against] yet, I don't know yet, but you'll find out pretty soon.”