Belfast boxer Anthony Cacace 'does it for Andytown' after winning world title in Saudi Arabia

Anthony Cacace ruled the world on Saturday night as he scored a sensational stoppage win over Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia. The Belfast boxer had Cordina down in the third before stopping the Welshman in the eighth to claim the IBF super-featherweight belt in Riyadh.

It was a devastating performance from the 'Andytown Apache', who added Cordina's IBF belt to his own IBO title. Cacace also becomes the first male Irish boxer to become a World super-featherweight champion.

It was a proud moment for the 35-year-old at the Kingdom Arena, and he couldn't hide his delight afterwards.

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Cacace told Sky Sports: "I am in shock! Nobody gave me a chance to do this here. But I came over here confident with Mickey Hawkins, Barry O'Neill, Michael Hawkins Jnr, Andy O'Neill and Iain Mahood. We have all done this job.

"A wee lad from Andytown came all the way to Saudi Arabia and smashed up a champion. Joe is a hell of a competitor. He is an Olympian, a two-time World champion. I give him his dues, but tonight I was hurting him with every single shot. But I have nothing but respect for him and I'd love to run that back.

"I want to fight in Saudi Arabia all the time. From here now on I want to be fighting here every single time. It's the place. No more in the UK."

Cacace also sent a special message back to his family and fans in Belfast.

"I want to tell my wife and kids, I love them so much and I did this for you," he said.

"I love you all my fans back home. I am Andytown proud. And I am bringing this belt back to Andytown. The first Irish super-featherweight champion of the world! And I am proud to make history tonight."

Cacace's manager and promoter Frank Warren says the team will sit down before plotting their next move, while the Belfast man said he would be open to a rematch.

After adding the IBF belt to his collection, Cacace added: "I was IBO World champion. Everyone discredits the IBO but this is a title as well.

"It might not be one of these (IBF) but it is a world title and I won't discredit it. I was a world champion coming in here. Well, at least according to my kids.

"But now I am the IBF world champion. I just want to let everyone at Matchroom know, and Zelfa Barrett, stick that up you. You didn't give me a chance, look at me now. None of you are getting a chance."

Meanwhile, Queensberry Promotions chief Warren said: "We will sit down with the team and we will see what we do next. The name of the game is what Anthony did tonight, and that was a fantastic performance.

"He was a big underdog according to everyone coming tonight, and he has come here and shown everyone what he's about. My only concern leading into this was he was fighting regularly enough, but look what he had in the tank here and what he did.

"He just did an absolutely professional, top quality job."

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