Following his impressive ninth-round stoppage victory over Leigh Wood, Anthony Cacace, 36, has indicated he is open to moving up to the lightweight division (135 lbs), identifying American boxing stars Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Shakur Stevenson as potential dream opponents.
Last Saturday`s win over Wood in Saudi Arabia marked the latest success in Cacace`s strong run at super-featherweight (130 lbs). He had strategically vacated his IBF title prior to the fight, opting for the more financially rewarding clash with the former two-time world champion.
This decision proved beneficial, significantly boosting both his finances and public profile. With a professional record of 24-1 including 9 knockouts, Cacace is now looking to build on this momentum to enhance his earnings and legacy in the sport.
His recent dominant performances, including consecutive victories over former world champions Josh Warrington and Joe Cordina before the Wood fight, have firmly established the Belfast southpaw as a legitimate force at the world level.
Despite his promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry, suggesting Cacace`s next fight will likely take place as a homecoming event in Belfast, `Anto` has also mentioned current WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster as a potential opponent, hinting at ongoing discussions for this significant matchup.
However, Cacace appears willing to potentially postpone a Belfast homecoming if a truly significant, life-changing opportunity arises at lightweight.
Naturally, pound-for-pound talents like Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) and Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), who hold the WBC and WBA lightweight titles respectively, sit atop his list of desired opponents for their standing in the sport and the potential global platform they offer.
Speaking on DAZN’s Ariel and Ade show, Cacace confirmed his openness to the move. “I’m still making super-featherweight handy enough – I’ve been doing it for years,” he stated, crediting his professionalism and discipline for his continued ability to make the 130 lbs limit.
“But if I can get one of these big fights at lightweight – you know, Shakur Stevenson or ‘Tank’ Davis – they’re the fights I got into boxing for,” he added, expressing the allure of such high-profile matchups. “So to be in [a fight] like that – in America, Las Vegas or [somewhere] like that – would just be unbelievable.”
While a move up to 135 lbs is certainly within the realm of possibility and highly desired by Cacace for the right opponent, the immediate availability of Davis and Stevenson is uncertain due to their current fight commitments (Stevenson is scheduled to face William Zepeda on July 12, while Davis is expected to rematch Frank Martin later this year). This means a unification fight against O`Shaquie Foster might be a more likely step in the near future, though the lightweight dream remains alive.
