'Let's have it' - former Michael Conlan opponent calls out Anthony Cacace after world title win

Former Michael Conlan opponent Leigh Wood has issued a 'let's have it' call to Anthony Cacace following the Belfast boxer's stunning World title win on Saturday night. Cacace upset the odds to stop Cordina in the eighth round to add the IBF super-featherweight belt to his own IBO strap.

It was an incredible performance from the 35-year-old who had Cordina down in the third before before getting the stoppage.

Cacace said: "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.

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"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."

Cacace should have no shortage of options, and it appears former WBA featherweight champion Wood fancies a crack at the IBF belt.

Replying to a post on twitter which suggested he would 'smoke Cacace', Wood said on X: "Belfast/Ireland are gonna hate me. But let’s have it."

Wood knocked Conlan out cold through the ropes when the pair met in a world title showdown in Nottingham back in March 2022. The Falls Road man was ahead on the judges' scorecards going into the final round of the contest.

There had been chat of a rematch in Belfast, but Wood went on to have back-to-back fights with Mauricio Lara and then beat Josh Warrington. He has since stepped up to super-featherweight.

Asked what's next for Cacace, Queensberry Promotions chief Frank 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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