Anthony Cacace delivered a powerful performance, stopping Leigh Wood in the ninth round of their fight in Nottingham. The 36-year-old boxer from Northern Ireland, in strong form, added Wood to his list of impressive victories, which already included wins over Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington. Wood was fighting in front of his home crowd, but Cacace proved too strong.
Cacace controlled the fight, and after knocking Wood down in the ninth round, Wood`s trainer, Ben Davison, decided to stop the bout by throwing in the towel, recognizing the serious danger his fighter was in.
Saturday night`s results
Here`s a quick look at the outcomes from the packed night of boxing in Nottingham:
- Anthony Cacace beats Leigh Wood – TKO
- Liam Davies beats Kury Walker – UD (Unanimous Decision)
- Ezra Taylor beats Troy Jones – UD
- Owen Cooper beats Chris Kongo – PTS (Points)
- Sam Noakes beats Patrik Balaz – KO (Knockout)
- Lewis Williams beats Viktar Chvarkou – PTS
- Charlie Senior beats Cesar Paredes – PTS
- Nico Leivars beats Darwing Martinez – PTS
- Huey Malone beats Jakub Laskowski – PTS
- Joe Tyers beats Mario Portillo – PTS
- Harris Akbar beats Octavian Gratii – PTS
- Joe Copper beats Dmitri Protkunas – PTS
What next for Wood?
While Anthony Cacace has many potential opponents after this win, Leigh Wood`s future path is less clear. Wood, who turns 37 in August, needed a significant performance and a victory to position himself for world title contention in his new weight class. However, his return to title contention won`t be immediate and will likely require two or three substantial wins following his loss to Cacace.
Wood still hopes to fulfill one ambition: fighting in front of a large crowd at the City Ground, the home of his favorite football club, Nottingham Forest. Fans may have wished this would be a world title fight, but it could potentially be a final career bout. Wood has been an exciting British fighter over the past decade, consistently involved in tough battles. Regardless of his next move, Wood will be remembered as a legend in British boxing.
Property goals
At 36 and approaching the later stage of his career, Anthony Cacace was direct about his priorities for his remaining time in boxing. He explained that he gave up his IBF belt for the fight against Wood because it offered a higher payout, and he is seeking lucrative opportunities in his upcoming fights as well.
He stated, “I want the big opportunities, more belts, and the big money. It`s mainly about the money. I have three children – it`s time to purchase a few houses.”
Conlan as a potential opponent?
Anthony Cacace was asked about the possibility of a high-profile fight against fellow Irish boxer Michael Conlan. Cacace indicated he was open to it but emphasized his focus on major titles.
He told TalkSPORT, “Michael Conlan is a gentleman. With all respect to him, I would fight him without issue. But I`m targeting the WBC and WBA [titles]. Michael isn`t quite at that level right now, but if he reaches that position, I`m completely for it. Or, if I`m offered a lot of money, I`ll do it next week.”
Trainer defends decision
Ben Davison, Leigh Wood`s trainer, stood by his choice to throw in the towel in the ninth round. Speaking after the fight, Davison explained that the decision was instinctive and based on several factors.
“It`s purely instinctual, you don`t have much time,” Davison told The Ring. “You consider instinct, Leigh`s age, his career stage, how the fight is progressing, and the opponent. We know Cacace is a strong puncher and finisher. Taking all these things into account, my instinct told me it was the correct decision at that moment. And frankly, I still feel that way.”
Scorecard controversy
Despite trainer Ben Davison stopping the fight in the ninth round, one judge`s scorecard actually had Leigh Wood leading at that point. While judges Olena Pobyvailo (77-75) and Benoit Roussel (79-73) scored the first eight rounds for Cacace, judge Steve Gray had Wood ahead 77-75.
Gray awarded rounds one, four, five, seven, and eight to Wood. Round four was the only one where all three judges scored in favor of Wood.
Cacace on his performance and the crowd
Cacace also commented on the pressure he felt and his appreciation for the host city.
He added, “I put a lot of pressure on myself. I had only negative feelings coming into this, but I`ve now beaten three two-time world champions.” He acknowledged Wood`s recent inactivity, saying, “Leigh had been out for a long time. I may not have defeated the absolute best version of Leigh Wood, but I did beat Leigh Wood, and I want to thank Nottingham for having me; you are a great crowd.”
“My time is now”
Anthony Cacace, who celebrated with a cigar, reiterated that his primary reason for taking the fight was financial but that he now desires major fights. Promoter Frank Warren indicated that plans include a significant homecoming fight for Cacace in Belfast.
Cacace stated, “I took this fight solely for the money. The pay was double. Show me the money, and I will travel anywhere. My time is now.” When asked about potentially fighting WBC champion O`Shaquie Foster, he responded similarly, “Show me the money; it would need to be better than tonight.”
Skill and respect
The highly anticipated match featured two tough competitors. For much of the fight, Leigh Wood showed little evidence of his 19-month break from the ring. However, Anthony Cacace operated on a higher level and defeated the English fighter in the ninth round. Ultimately, the contest concluded with a clear display of mutual respect between the two boxers.
Wood takes time to decide future
In his interview after the fight, Leigh Wood declined to discuss his future plans, telling DAZN that he would take some time to consider his next move. Despite the loss, the Englishman delivered a commendable performance, especially considering his long absence from the ring, though the defeat was undoubtedly painful.
Team acknowledgement
Outside of the ring, Anthony Cacace was full of praise for his support system. After his main event victory, he highly complimented promoter Frank Warren and his entire team, attributing the success he`s experiencing in his mid-30s to their collective effort.
Respect between the warriors
Despite nine rounds of intense combat, the respect between Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood was evident. Cacace spent a significant amount of time speaking with Wood after the fight. Wood himself commented that if he had to lose to someone, he was glad it was Cacace, describing him as a “really good guy.” While the outcome wasn`t what Wood desired, he once again made his home supporters proud in the ring.
The decisive moment
After Anthony Cacace landed a series of impactful shots, he followed up with a combination that visibly hurt Wood. Wood stumbled backward, with only the ropes keeping him upright. Wood`s corner hoped he might recover, but when he was unable to bounce back effectively, they made the decision to stop the fight to protect their fighter.
