Leigh Wood returns from a 19-month lay-off with a step up in weight against the in-form Antony Cacace at Nottingham Arena.
Wood is back in front of his adoring hometown public for the first time since his stunning KO defeat to Mauricio Lara in February 2022. The 36-year-old avenged that loss with a masterful performance in an instant rematch that made him a two-time WBA featherweight champion.
A simmering British grudge match against Josh Warrington followed in Sheffield in October 2023. Wood was way down on the cards before turning the tables and blasting Warrington to a seventh-round TKO loss.
His performance prior to the stoppage suggested Wood’s time as a 126-pound fighter was done. But it has been frustrating injuries rather than weight struggles that have depleted him since.
During the interim period, Cacace has taken the baton from Wood in terms of a fighter hitting a fabulous run of late-career form.
The Belfast boxer upset the odds to dethrone Joe Cordina and collect the IBF super featherweight title in Riyadh in May 2024. That was on the undercard for the initial meeting between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, and Cacace apparently developed a taste for beating some of the UK’s biggest names on huge heavyweight nights.
Before Daniel Dubois stunned Anthony Joshua at Wembley last September, ‘The Apache’ outboxed a lacklustre Warrington to claim another notable scalp. Cacace’s decision to face Warrington meant he vacated the IBF title, so this bout is not one of the major belts.
The lightly regarded IBO belt is on the line, but this is still an encounter packed with jeopardy. Defeat at this stage of either man’s career could hasten the end, while an impressive victory would open up more huge nights for Wood or Cacace — two uncompromising survivors of who have taken the hard road to this stage.
MORE: Anthony Cacace ready to defend IBO title against his third two-time world champion in a row
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood main card results
- Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood; Super Featherweights
- Liam Davies vs. Kurt Walker; Featherweights
- Ezra Taylor vs. Troy Jones; Light Heavyweights
- Owen Cooper vs. Chris Kongo; Welterweights
- Sam Noakes vs. Patrik Balaz; Super Lightweights
Where to watch Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood
Anthony Cacace vs. Leigh Wood will be available on DAZN worldwide.
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