RUMOURS of Anto Cacace’s boxing demise a couple of years ago proved to be premature and, despite not fighting at all between November 2019 and August 2021, ‘The Apache’ bounced back and he defends his IBO title against Poland’s Damian Wrzesinski on Saturday night.
Cacace hasn’t fought in his native city since 2015 when (as part of Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Stable) he fought Santiago Bustos on the undercard of Frampton-Avalos. Written off several times since, Cacace kept defying the doubters. He beat Michael Magnesi to win the IBO belt last year and a successful defence on Saturday night would catapult him into the mainstream belts and big-money fights.
“All’s good and I’m raring to go now,” he said.
“I just want to get the weigh-in done and then get to work. Frampton-Avalos is the last time I fought in Belfast so it’s a bit weird being involved in this.
“I’ve always been the ‘away’ fighter, I’ve always been in press conferences or whatever looking for my opponent trying to get into his head. I saw him (Wrzesinski) earlier and I’m sure he’s coming to try and take my title, I know he’s hungry but I’m hungry and I’m ready to rock. I’m older, I’m 34, and I want to at least fight for the WBC or IBF title. That would be nice.”
A fight with Welsh IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina would be top of Cacace’s wish list if he gets past Pole Wrzesinski at the SSE Arena.
“If I lose this, the dream is over,” said Cacace.
“That’s just the way it is and everyone’s aware of that. That’s why in my head there’s no losing this. I’m going in to beat this guy and that would near-enough get me the mandatory spot to fight Cordina and that is something I’ve dreamt about – I’ve dreamt about fighting for one of the big titles and (when I do) I think you’ll see a different side to me.
“It’ll be no more Mr Nice Guy. It’ll be business – punching the head off some boy and getting out with a nice belt and a nice pay day.”
Meanwhile, Conor Quinn, brought up two streets away from headline act Michael Conlan, is up against Peru native Juan Hinostroza over eight rounds on Saturday night. Hinostroza went six rounds with Paddy Barnes in 2017 and will be a good test for ‘the Magnificent’.
“It’s a great show to be a part of,” said Dee Walsh-trained Quinn who sparred with Sonny Edwards in preparation for this fight.
“Two years’ ago, when I applied for my British Boxing Licence, I had some medical issues and I was told I might never box again. Here we are two years’ later and I’m going to be on the biggest show in Belfast.
“It just shows that anything you want you can fight for.”
Conlan Boxing chief Jamie Conlan added: “Conor is a fantastic fighter.
“He’s taking on a really tough opponent who fought Paddy Barnes so this is a good test for him and a good stepping stone on the way to titles.”
The only Dubliner on the bill is super-lightweight ‘Big Bang’ Pierce O’Leary (11-0) who will be fighting on home soil for the first time in his career.
“They call me ‘Big Bang’ so I want to go out and I want to destroy people,” he said.
“I want to take their souls. There’ll be fireworks on Saturday night. It’s a very competitive division but I’ll just keep working hard, I’ll keep doing my thing and getting the wins.”
