ANTO Cacace will defend his IBO super-featherweight title against Leigh Wood at Nottingham Arena on Saturday, May 10.
Cacace vacated his IBF belt last week, ending speculation that he could defend it against Eduardo Nunez and can now set his sights on the serious task of taking out Wood on home soil.
Three years ago, ‘Leigh-thal’ battled back from the brink of defeat to knock Michael Conlan out in the last round of a IBF featherweight title thriller at the atmospheric arena in his native city.
He’s boxed just three times since. After Conlan, Wood lost to Mauricio Lara but avenged that defeat before going on to stop Josh Warrington in October 23.
He’ll have been inactive for over a year and-a-half by the time he squares up to Cacace on May 10. After beating Joe Cordina to win the IBF title in Saudi Arabia, the ‘Andytown Apache’ dominated Warrington at Wembley Stadium and will travel to Nottingham full of confidence.
HARLEM Eubank isn’t ready for the storm that’s coming his way, warns Tyrone McKenna ahead of his Brighton bust-up with the unbeaten English light-welterweight vacant IBF Intercontinental title.
Eubank, nephew of iconic former world champion Chris Eubank senior, hosts Belfast’s warrior king at the Brighton Centre on March 7 and the pair of them squared up last week.
McKenna will travel to the south coast of England after knocking Dylan Moran out on his home turf and it’s absolutely no surprise that he intends to do the same to Eubank.
“I only want wars,” said the ‘Mighty Celt’.
“I enjoy standing toe-to-toe, trading and breaking the other man’s heart and March 7 will be no different and we will be able to swim in the blood at the end, of a fight of non-stop action.
“Harlem is not ready for this and he has got to 20-0 because of his last name. He’s not ready and I’m going to beat him up.”
After winning the WBO ‘Global’ light-welterweight belt in late 2023, Eubank almost a year out of the ring. He returned in November and, now 30 with 20 wins under his belt, he intends to emulate his cousin Chris Eubank junior and kick on towards world title level this year and the winner is guaranteed a top 10 world ranking.
“McKenna is going to be in for a hard night,” he said.
“He likes wars, but he’s picked the wrong one this time and he will find out the hard way. I’m here to put an end to the mistruths that he has planted in his head. It’s going to be beautiful and it’s what I have been waiting for. I’ve been waiting for someone to bring a war and bring it to me head on.
“And if Tyrone is that man then the fans are in for a treat, on March 7, and Tyrone is in for a painful night.”
Jamie Conlan views the fight as a chance for both boxers to show their “true identity” and Eubank will have to stand with McKenna at times and cope with his gung-ho attacking style if he is to win on home soil.
“There is real intrigue with this fight and Harlem is going to have to dig down to that Eubank name and bringing that to the fore in this fight,” he said.
“It is a fantastic bit of match-making from Kalle and Nisse, a real gem of a fight and a fight that can show the true identity of both men.
“This is Harlem’s big opportunity to break into the mainstream and there is no better person to do it with then Tyrone McKenna. Tyrone is coming here to start mayhem.”
Meanwhile, Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman, who has also included Michael Conlan’s comeback fight on the card, added: “There has been a massive storm in Brighton this week and it is only going to grow between now and March 7.
“We have a blockbuster of a card, headlined by a real throwback fight. Tyrone McKenna really brings it and is rarely in a bad fight but Harlem is planning on making a big statement.”
THE thoughts of all boxing fans are with John Cooney who was admitted to hospital after appearing at the Ulster Hall on Saturday. The affable super-featherweight had been involved in a bruising contest with Nathan Howells at the Bedford Street venue and after being assessed by the onsite medical team of the British Boxing Board of Control he was taken to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment
“On arrival at the RVH it was discovered that John had an intracranial haemorrhage
and underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain,” read a statement from MHD Promotions.
“John is currently in the intensive care unit and the capable hands of the ICU team. John’s fiancee Emmaleen and his parents Hughie and Tina would like to thank
everyone for their private messages of support and ask that they keep John
in their thoughts and prayers at this time as he faces his toughest battle.”
COLM Murphy blasted out Kasimu Hamad Haji inside three rounds to move to 14-0 in the headline act on Saturday night’s entertaining Ulster Hall bill.
With Jim Neilly ably assisted by Tommy McCarthy at ringside and Michaela Walsh and Anto Cacace analysing the action alongside present Mark Sidebottom, the BBC coverage of the event was excellent and Murphy outworked Tanzania’s Haji before he finished him off.
Earlier, Teo Alin’s slick skills caught the eye and Connor Quinn returned to winning way with a composed display against Sean Jackson. Jack O’Neill, Charlies McDonagh and James Freeman all advanced their careers with victories.
Featherweight: Colm Murphy (14-0) bt Kasimu Hamad Haji (16-7-2) KO3
BBBofC Celtic Super Featherweight: John Cooney (11-1) lost to Nathan Howells (11-1-1) TKO9
Bantamweight: Conor Quinn (10-1-1) bt Sean Jackson (0-30-1) pts
Featherweight: Jack O’Neill (3-0) bt Luke Fash (3-111-3) TKO1
Lightweight: Charles McDonagh (2-0) bt Karl Sampson (7-44-1) pts
Super-featherweight: Teo Alin (3-0) bt Brayan Mairena (15-54-1) pts
Welterweight: James Freeman (4-0) bt Jacob Marrer (0-6) pts