Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood lock horns in intriguing domestic dust-up tops a bill at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham this Saturday, with the IBO super featherweight world title up for grabs.
Queensberry promote Cacace vs Wood, and DAZN televise the card live.
After dropping a 2017 decision to Martin J Ward for the British and Commonwealth titles, Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) has been in fine form, winning his last eight contests.
The Belfast man won the British belt in 2019 with a split decision win over Sam Bowen, and defended on the cards against Lyon Woodstock before taking the IBO crown in September 2022 with a split verdict win over Michael Magnesi.
After a 2023 defence, Cacace then superbly added the IBF world title to his collection, halting Joe Cordina in eight rounds in Saudi Arabia. One defence followed last September, as he largely dominated in a points win against Josh Warrington.
He vacated the IBF strap in January, in favor of bigger fights, and former WBA champion Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) is certainly a decent test for ‘The Apache’. Wood stunned Xu Can in the final round to capture the world title in 2021, and defended once before being stopped in seven by Mauricio Lara in February 2023.
Wood would immediately gain revenge, widely outpointing the Mexican in a rematch, and his last opponent was also Josh Warrington, stopping the Yorkshireman in seven in October 2023.
Injury niggles have hampered the Nottingham fighter since, and he has already mentioned 2025 being his last year in the sport.
Prediction: Cacace has struggled with injuries and inactivity, but is in the form of his life, and I lean towards him retaining his title with a points win.
Davies looks to bounce back against Walker
The vacant IBF International featherweight title is on the line on the undercard, as Liam Davies (16-1, 8 KOs) returns from his first loss as a pro against Kurt Walker (12-0, 2 KOs).
Kurt Walker and Leon Woodstock letting them hands go 👀#CrockerDonovan | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/5OXF6vyFWr
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 1, 2025
Davies was defeated clearly by Shabaz Masoud, although it was a split decision, while Walker is unbeaten, and is coming off a majority verdict win over Lyon Woodstock last March.
Prediction: Davies can learn from his defeat to Masoud, and can clearly win on points here against Walker.
Undercard preview
Ezra Taylor (11-0, 8 KOs) makes an appearance, and the Nottinghamshire light heavyweight should score a stoppage win in his scheduled ten-rounder with fellow unbeaten prospect, Troy Jones (12-0, 6 KOs).
The final ten-rounder is at welterweight, where Owen Cooper (10-1, 4 KOs) will likely need the scorecards to take the win over Chris Kongo (17-2, 7 KOs).
The sole eight rounder is at super lightweight, where Sam Noakes (16-0, KO14) makes the step up in weight after reigning as British, Commonwealth and European lightweight champion, and he should stop Patrik Balaz (13-4-1, 5 KOs).
An absolute peach of an uppercut causes the damage 🍑
Sam Noakes stops Delmar Thomas in the first round. He moves to 5-0 and has some future ahead of him 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wM5tFlwo3R
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) February 27, 2021
In six round action, Nico Leivars (6-0-1, 1 KO) can record a points win against Darwing Martinez (8-30-2, 6 KOs) at featherweight, and heavyweight novice Lewis Williams (2-0, 1 KO) can win early against Viktar Chvarkou (5-23, 3 KOs).
Huey Malone makes a debut, and he can outpoint Jakub Laskowski (5-35-1, 3 KOs) in their super lightweight contest, and fellow first-timer Charlie Senior should do the same against Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-17-1, 5 KOs) at featherweight.
In four-rounders, Joe Cooper (3-0, 0 KOs) can bank another points win, this time against Dmitri Protkunas (8-19-1, 1 KO) at middleweight, and lightweight debutant Joe Tyers should come through on points against Mario Valenzuela Portillo (8-7-2, 2 KOs).
