Belfast’s Anthony Cacace has stunned the boxing world by vacating his world title in order to pursue the “biggest fights possible” in the future.
The ‘Andersontown Apache’ stunned Joe Cordina in Riyadh back in May, knocking out the Welsh boxer on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk to become the IBF super-featherweight champion and achieve a lifelong goal.
However, he has now decided to forego that honour and focus on securing bigger paydays in future, per a post on Instagram on Friday.
We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity.
“Today I have decided to vacate my IBF World Title,” wrote the 35-year-old.
“Becoming a World Champion was an absolute dream and an incredibly proud moment for me.
“However at this stage of my career I only want the biggest fights possible, regardless of the belt on the line.
“I’m a prize fighter and my aim now is to secure mine and family’s future and to create a legacy for myself in boxing by being involved in massive fights that fans will remember.
“Look forward to announcing my next fight very soon. Watch this space.”
Cacace was due to face his mandatory challenger Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez in his next fight, however relinquishing the belt means he is now free to take on any fighter he wishes instead.
And it looks like he is going to get his wish, with legendary boxing promoter Frank Warren commenting under Cacace’s post that there are indeed big things to come.
“Fight news coming soon; trust me you won’t be disappointed! Only the biggest and best fights for @anto_cacace,” wrote Warren.
Cacace has burst onto the boxing scene in the last year, his shock win over Cordina followed up by a non-title fight win over Josh Warrington, which was due to be the Belfast man’s first title defence only for the IBF to refuse to sanction it due to both their desire for an immediate fight with Nunez and the Leeds fighter’s inactivity at super-featherweight.
It remains to be seen who Cacace will face next, with rumours suggesting that it could be a stadium fight against Michael Conlan’s former conqueror Leigh Wood at the City Ground in Wood’s home town of Nottingham.