Anthony Cacace knows he is just one fight away from a two-time world title scalp if he can beat Leigh Wood on Saturday.
The 36-year-old vacated his IBF world title, a higher accolade, to take on the Brit in an IBO super featherweight scrap in Nottingham.
Cacace, who hails from Belfast, is stepping into the ring for the first time in eight months following his victory over Josh Warrington. Wood is a former two-time champion of the division and has his own ambitions to get back in world title contention.
Speaking to Boxing Scene, Cacace said: “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. “
“I don’t know [who it will be against] yet, I don’t know yet, but you’ll find out pretty soon.”
Cacace was also candid in his reasoning for vacating his IBF world title belt, revealing his pay day for fighting Wood in a sold-out arena was almost double compared to a mandatory fight. He added: “Financially, it was a no-brainer, do you know what I mean?
“It’s double the money for Leigh [compared to fighting mandatory Sugar Nunez], and if you get offered a job and it’s double the money…
“It may have been different if I was 28, but I’m 36, and the road’s getting shorter, so it’s time to capitalise.”
Cacace is on an eight-fight winning streak, including a TKO victory over Joe Cordina last year. Wood is stepping into the ring for the first time since his win over Warrington in October 2023 to retain the WBA featherweight title.
Promoter Frank Warren believes the fight has all the makings of a classic, and the rewards for the winner could be life-changing.
He said: “It is a special fight and it is going to be a special night.
“Saturday we will maybe get Fight of the Year or it will certainly be a contender between two extremely, extremely good boxers.
“The IBO title is on the line for the winner of the fight and it is a must-win fight for both of them. The winner will go on and be involved in a massive fight this year.
“They know what it is all about and they know what they’ve got to do. I think we are going to see something extra, extra special.”
Read: Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson reveals his favourite Irish fighters
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