Anthony Cacace delivered a powerful performance, securing a TKO victory over Leigh Wood in the ninth round of their super featherweight bout in Nottingham.
The 36-year-old boxer from Northern Ireland continued his impressive form, adding the notable name of Leigh Wood to a list that includes wins over Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington. The fight took place in front of Wood`s passionate home crowd.
Cacace largely controlled the action, eventually dropping Wood in the ninth round. Recognizing his fighter was in serious danger, Wood`s trainer, Ben Davison, made the decision to throw in the towel, bringing the contest to an end.
Full Results from Nottingham Fight Night
Here are the outcomes from the other fights on the card:
- Anthony Cacace defeated Leigh Wood via TKO
- Liam Davies defeated Kury Walker via Unanimous Decision (UD)
- Ezra Taylor defeated Troy Jones via Unanimous Decision (UD)
- Owen Cooper defeated Chris Kongo via Points (PTS)
- Sam Noakes defeated Patrik Balaz via Knockout (KO)
- Lewis Williams defeated Viktar Chvarkou via Points (PTS)
- Charlie Senior defeated Cesar Paredes via Points (PTS)
- Nico Leivars defeated Darwing Martinez via Points (PTS)
- Huey Malone defeated Jakub Laskowski via Points (PTS)
- Joe Tyers defeated Mario Portillo via Points (PTS)
- Harris Akbar defeated Octavian Gratii via Points (PTS)
- Joe Cooper defeated Dmitri Protkunas via Points (PTS)
Leigh Wood`s Future Prospects
While Cacace looks ahead to potentially lucrative opportunities, the path forward for Leigh Wood is less clear. Turning 37 in August, this fight was crucial for Wood to re-establish himself in world title discussions at his new weight. The defeat means he will likely need a couple more significant victories to get back into contention.
Wood has previously expressed a desire to fight at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest. This might now serve as a potential final bout in his career. Known for his entertaining style and resilience in the ring, Wood is celebrated as a legendary figure in British boxing.
Cacace Driven by Financial Goals
Approaching the end of his career at 36, Anthony Cacace was candid about his motivations. He revealed he accepted the fight against Wood “solely for the money,” citing the significantly higher payout compared to other options, including defending his previous IBF belt. His focus remains on securing financially rewarding fights and potentially pursuing more championship belts.
“It`s more about money,” Cacace stated. “I`ve got three children – it`s time to buy a couple of houses.” When asked about challenging WBC champion O`Shaquie Foster, he emphasized, “Show me the money, it`ll have to be better than tonight.” Promoter Frank Warren indicated plans for a major homecoming event for Cacace in Belfast.
Trainer Stands by Decision to Stop Fight
Leigh Wood`s trainer, Ben Davison, defended his decision to throw in the towel in the ninth round. He described it as an instinctual decision made under pressure, taking into account factors like Wood`s age, his position in his career, the flow of the fight, and Anthony Cacace`s proven ability to punch hard and finish opponents. Davison maintained that he still believes it was the correct call at that moment.
Scorecard Reveals Differing Views
Interestingly, despite trainer Ben Davison`s decision to stop the fight due to Wood`s condition, one judge`s scorecard showed Leigh Wood ahead after eight rounds. While judges Olena Pobyvailo (77-75) and Benoit Roussel (79-73) had Anthony Cacace in the lead, judge Steve Gray scored it 77-75 in favor of Wood. Gray awarded rounds one, four, five, seven, and eight to Wood, with only round four being unanimously scored for Wood by all three judges.
Mutual Respect After the Battle
Following a fierce nine rounds, a strong sense of respect was apparent between Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood. Cacace was seen talking with Wood after the fight, and Wood himself commented that if he had to lose, he was content it was to Cacace, whom he called a “really good guy.” Wood`s performance, particularly after a 19-month layoff, was praised, and he demonstrated his characteristic toughness fighting before his devoted home crowd.
Asked about his plans immediately after the bout, Leigh Wood was non-committal, stating he needed time to think about his next move in boxing.
Cacace Credits His Team
Anthony Cacace attributed his recent success, including this victory, to the support of his team and promoter Frank Warren. He feels their backing has been vital as he reaches this productive phase of his career in his mid-30s.
The Fight-Ending Sequence
The finish arrived in the ninth round when Cacace landed a sequence of heavy punches followed by a barrage that clearly hurt Wood, sending him staggering backward. He was leaning heavily on the ropes, unable to properly defend himself, which prompted his corner to intervene and stop the fight.
Oliver Croft