British Super-featherweight title: Anthony Cacace (18-1) v Lyon Woodstock (12-2) (tonight, Utilita Arena, Birmingham, live on BT Sport 1 from 7.30pm)
ANTHONY Cacace’s talent has never been in question, his potential has never been doubted but opportunities to show off both have been limited throughout his rather frustrating career as a professional fighter.
More than nine years ago, he made his pro debut with a routine stoppage win over journeyman Ben Wager at the Emerald Roadhouse in Finaghy. Since then the affable Belfast super-featherweight, who admits he has made his own mistakes, has had to deal with the frustration of travelling to the USA only to see scheduled fights cancelled and then a well-publicised fall-out with Cyclone Promotions.
His career has looked to be over more than once but tonight he gets the chance to shine as the headline act on the Queensbury Promotions ‘Night of champions’ card in Birmingham.
Southpaw Cacace won the British title against Sam Bowen in late 2019 with a skilful display of box-fighting and another performance of the same calibre should see him defend his title against the game, but limited, Woodstock tonight.
‘The Apache’, trained by the astute Harry Hawkins, hasn’t boxed since his points win over Bowen but Woodstock has been out of action even longer and pulled out of their fight in February after testing positive with Covid.
“I have no worries about being rusty after a lay-off,” said Cacace.
“I have been boxing 20 years and this comes second nature.
“I am used to the big stage and raring to go because I felt like I was never going to defend this title. “It’s been bad luck after bad luck, but I have trained hard and I’m ready for what Lyon brings.
“I will do whatever I want with Lyon. I can fight him, box him but I respect what he brings to the table - I will win and it doesn’t matter what way.”
London-born, Leicester-based Woodstock doesn’t have Cacace’s amateur background. He came to the sport late but what he lacks in pedigree, he tries to make up for in workrate.
The two losses on his card came when he stepped up in standard, first against Archie Sharp in a WBO European rumble in 2018 and then, in 2019, he was well beaten in a Commonwealth title challenge by the formidable Zelfa Barrett.
“I more than confident I will take the title,” he said.
“I don’t believe in the whole idea of ring rust because we’re both warriors.
“This is like a tribal thing, mine against his and I respect him as a warrior and gladiator and on Saturday two tribes are going to come together and go to war.
“I have experienced high and lows and that is what builds your character and the loss to Zelfa Barrett was part of the journey.”
Barrett is game and will be super-fit and ready to rumble tonight but Cacace has the superior skillset and boxing brain and he’ll also have advantages in reach and power. The Belfast man can afford to take his time and settle into the fight and, if he produces what he is capable of, he can box his way to a convincing win and force his way into the world title mix.
