Anto Cacace: Belfast boxer coy on links to Leigh Wood

Anto Cacace admitted that Leigh Wood is a potential opponent after the Belfast boxer vacated his IBF world super-featherweight title on Friday.

The 35-year-old beat Joe Cordina to become world champion in Saudia Arabia in May 2024 before winning a non-title fight against Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium four months ago.

Cacace was due to face his mandatory challenger for the IBF title, Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez, in his next bout but will now be free to face any opponent after relinquishing his championship belt.

“It doesn’t seem to be much of a secret but there’s a couple of names in the mix,” Cacace said when questioned by BBC Sport NI about links to a bout with Wood.

“I feel like it’s a better decision to vacate for my family’s future and for my future to create a legacy in this sport, and for my name to be remembered for big fights – so I think it’s the correct choice.”

Cacace stunned the boxing world when he knocked out Cordina in the eighth round on the undercard of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s first undisputed heavyweight showdown in Riyadh.

The underdog going into the fight, the Belfast man delivered a brutal performance to hand the Welshman his first professional defeat and claim the world title.

His first defence of that belt was due to be against former world champion Josh Warrington, before the IBF refused to sanction the fight as a world title contest because of the Leeds fighter’s inactivity at super-featherweight.

Without the title on the line, Cacace claimed a unanimous points win over Warrington to complete a memorable 2024.

Nottingham fighter Wood is a former featherweight world champion who has wins over Michael Conlan and Josh Warrington but has not fought since beating Warrington in October 2023.