ANTHONY Cacace doesn’t shy away from the love-hate relationship he’s had with boxing at times. Since turning pro 10 years ago, the west Belfast man’s path has seldom been staightforward.
Starting at home, away to America, back again. On the rise then nowhere to be seen, the clock ticking all the time. Boxers often joke that it would be easier to give it up and go back to normal life; Cacace has tried, but it keeps on pulling him back.
“That’s me every three months,” he laughs.
“If I didn’t love it and have a severe addiction to boxing, I would’ve walked away many moons ago. It’s just like… I can’t. I’ve tried to, I’ve gone and done painting and decorating, worked in Subway, I was delivering pizzas, I’m a plasterer by trade… I’ve tried, believe me, but I just can’t get away from it.
“I do have a deep love for it that I can’t seem to get rid of.”
At 33, and regarded as one of the most natural talents to emerge from these shores in recent decades, all Cacace wants now is something to show for it.
“I don’t know if I’ve been avoided or not… maybe there’s a bit of that. Every time I’ve fought for a belt I’ve been the mandatory - I’ve never been given a shot at anything, ever.
“No-one wants to give me an easy touch, maybe that says a wee bit for me, but at the end of the day I’ve got children to feed. Being avoided for whatever reason, or being a bit of a name, that means Jack shit to me. It’s not improving my life any.
“Forget titles, forget everything else. I would love to put a few pound in the bank for my children. That’s what matters to me.”
The British super-featherweight title belt won in victory over Sam Bowen in 2019 was the breakthrough he needed at the time but, with momentum stuttering, now he wants more - money in the bank, and an opportunity to show he can mix it with the best before it’s too late.
On Saturday night, he has that chance.
It is two weeks since it was announced that Cacace would face former world champion Jonathan Romero for the WBO international title, chief support on the huge Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte bill, which will bring 94,000 fight fans to Wembley Stadium.
Win and he takes a huge step forward on the world stage. Lose? That’s not even up for consideration as he heads for London this morning.
Having already been in preparation for a fight in March, the short notice nature of Saturday’s showdown hasn’t caught him too much on the hop.
However, since his last outing - a unanimous decision win over Leon Woodstock eight months ago - Cacace has parted ways with manager Pat Magee and trainer Harry Hawkins. Recent months have been spent in Carrickfergus, under the watchful eye of Ian Mahood.
Nothing has ever been straightforward, and this time around is no different. But Cacace knows that, no matter how many eyes are on him in Wembley on Saturday night, this is a chance he must take.
“Every fight’s a risk.
“It’s been a tough couple of months, I’m having to deal with a lot of things I haven’t had to deal with before, but that’s boxing and that’s what happens sometimes. It’s a difficult game, more mentally than physically.
“I’ve switched up trainers, I’m down in Carrickfergus, so I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone. I just have to take it as it comes.
“If I want to move onto world level, I have to win this. I don’t think it is beyond me, but I believe I’ve had to do everything the hard way. I’ve never been given a shot at anything nice and easy, but I suppose that’s made me who I am today.”
Like Cacace, Romero’s 35 fight pro career shows only one loss – to Kiko Martinez in 2013 when the Spaniard ripped the world super-bantamweight title from his grasp.
And while the 35-year-old hasn’t returned to that level in the time between, Cacace knows he will have his hands full with the tricky Colombian once the first bell sounds on Saturday.
“I watched a video of his fight from six months ago and this guy’s very slick.
“The fact it’s at Wembley, on a Tyson Fury undercard, I haven’t given any of that one single minute of thought. I’m sure it’ll be a bit daunting but whenever I’m in the zone, nothing can change me.
“I know this guy can be a real spoiler, he still looks fresh enough to me, so I know this is a tough fight for me – probably the toughest of my career.”
***************
COYLE BACK IN FLORIDA AHEAD OF NABA TITLE CHALLENGE
DERRY middleweight Connor Coyle is in Florida for a training camp ahead of his May 21 NABA middleweight title showdown against Antonio Todd in Orlando.
Splitting time between home and Florida during recent years, unbeaten Coyle has amassed a perfect 15-0 record - with seven of those wins coming by knockout. In his last outing in February, the 31-year-old broke down Rodrigo Rodrigues en route to a fifth round stoppage.
As for Coyle’s next opponent, Todd’s record is a deceptive 13-5 - with seven KO wins showing he carries a threat. Indeed, during the last year and a half, he’s amassed an impressive 6-1-1 record, earning his biggest win to date in January when scoring a 10 round majority decision over the experienced Hugo Centeno jr.
“Todd is very tough but this is the kind of fight I need,” said 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Coyle, who is trained by Jim McLaughlin.
“He’s much better than his record suggests and a few of his losses were close fights against top opponents. I’m happy to be back in Florida and know this is going to be a tough camp because I’ve got to be at my best to take home the NABA title on May 21.”
And Coyle’s promoter, Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing, believes bictory over Todd will lead to bigfer opportunities down the line for the Derry man.
“Antonio Todd is no pushover and Connor has to be at his best if he wants to win impressively,” said Caliguire.
“If everything goes as planned, Connor will be rated as one of the top 15 middleweights in the world and the opportunities are limitless.”
