World champion boxer Anthony Cacace has joined his fans at the unveiling of a new mural dedicated to the fighter in his native west Belfast.
Cacace, who became the first Irish boxer to win the IBF super-featherweight title when he defeated Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia in May, joined a crowd on Tuesday evening for for the mural unveiling in Andersonstown.
Known as the Andersonstown Apache, Cacace (35), met fans, signed autographs and posed for pictures during the event, which took place before intensive training begins for his next fight in September.
The mural, located at South Link, depicts Cacace with both his IBF title belt and his IBO super featherweight championship belt, and it is based on a snap of the fighter following his victory at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
Cacace learned the sweet science at west Belfast’s Oliver Plunkett boxing club, beginning at the age of 10.
He now trains with Holy Trinity boxing club, and its founder Mickey Hawkins said the community was thrilled to see their champion back on the streets of Andersonstown and his historic victory memorialised in a mural.
“It was a fantastic turn-out, and the community is so proud of Anthony and what he has achieved,” he told the Irish News.
“He has a lot of time for his fans, and spent a lot of time chatting with everyone and taking pictures. He’s so down to earth, and is a great role model for the youngsters in the area, who are truly inspired by his success.
“Anthony will now be heading to Italy for a couple of weeks, where he will begin training, before returning to Belfast and intensifying the training ahead of September, when he takes on Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium in London.”
