Anthony Cacace and Josh Warrington at shut quarters of their Sept. 21 130-pound combat at Wembley Stadium in London. Photograph Credit score: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.
Anthony Cacace adopted up his career-best victory together with his highest profile feat thus far.
The Ring’s No. 6-rated junior light-weight contender turned away the problem of former featherweight titleholder Josh Warrington. Scores had been 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111 for Cacace, whose IBF 130-pound title was not at stake Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.
Sanctioning was not offered by the IBF since Cacace was on the hook to subsequent defend versus necessary challenger Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez. Moreover, Warrington is unranked at any weight by the sanctioning physique.
Stress was evident all through the buildup to this matchup, not an unusual incidence with any given combat involving Warrington. Cacace even managed to get in a lightweight shove on the finish of the ultimate pre-fight directions. On the authorized facet of motion, the Belfast native landed a crisp uppercut in probably the most telling punch of the opening spherical.
Warrington stormed again with a powerful second spherical in his 130-pound debut. The previous two-time IBF featherweight titlist labored his manner inside and focused the physique. Cacace was briefly thrown off his sport within the spherical and for pockets of the third.
The tide shifted for good in spherical 4. Cacace was capable of put collectively his energy photographs, which clearly surprised Warrington. It didn’t end in a knockdown, although Warrington was compelled to clinch throughout a number of sequences.
Warrington’s simplest moments within the stability of the combat got here with the usage of his head. One other frequent incidence in his combat is the variety of head clashes. One such second produced a slicing minimize alongside Cacace’s left eyebrow. It by no means grew to become an actual issue, aside from the nuisance of the blood that streamed down the facet of his face.
Cacace linked with a proper hand and left hook within the eighth. Warrington took the photographs nicely whereas his again touched the ropes however he couldn’t muster a response. He was later capable of join with physique photographs however Cacace dismissed the blows as he piled up factors on the scorecards.
Warrington hit the deck inside the ultimate minute of the twelfth and remaining spherical. He prevented a knockdown name when referee Howard Foster dominated that he slipped on the middle ring emblem. Cacace continued to provoke the motion within the closing seconds to place a bow on his newest win.
The win noticed Cacace (23-1, 8 knockouts) prolong his present eight-fight win streak. Warrington (31-4-1, 8 KOs) is now 1-4-1 in his final six begins, together with three consecutive defeats. Whereas a valiant effort, will probably be his final on this stage for some time. A preferred ticket vendor, Warrington—who introduced 10,000 followers with him from Leeds—may rebuild at house.
Nonetheless, his laying down his gloves at middle ring after the choice was introduced suggests he’ll extra possible name it a profession.
In the meantime, Cacace will now should revisit his necessary title protection versus Nunez (28-1, 28 KOs). That’s if he stays on the weight. The Ring has discovered that there’s a probability Cacace will vacate the IBF title later this yr.
Additionally on the present, Josh Kelly survived a rocky remaining spherical to outpoint late substitute Ishmael Davis over twelve rounds. One decide had it 114-114, whereas Kelly (16-1-1, 8 KOs) received by scores of 115-113 and 115-114 of their contest above the 154-pound restrict.
Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) accepted the combat on quick discover, changing an unwell Liam Smith.
Kelly is the number-one contender in accordance with the WBO’s junior middleweight rankings. He was not but named because the necessary challenger, nonetheless.
Each bouts had been a part of a six-fight DAZN/PPV.com pay-per-view occasion. Daniel Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) defends his IBF heavyweight title versus Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) atop the present.
