ANTHONY Cacace has now firmly made his mark on the super-featherweight division, extending what has become, even at this late stage in his career, a scintillating surge.
Many expected his clash with Leigh Wood to deliver a 12-round barnburner and, through eight frames, their matchup certainly made for a compelling spectacle.
But in the end, it was Cacace’s relentless attacks that led to a destructive ninth-round finish, keeping the 36-year-old’s Indian summer very much alive.
Here, Boxing News takes a closer look at the main event, and indeed the card itself, following last night’s action at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.
Liam Davies to face McGregor-Collins winner
Former British and European super-bantamweight champion Liam Davies enjoyed a comprehensive debut at 126lbs, returning to the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Kurt Walker.
The 29-year-old was outboxed by Shabaz Masoud last November but, now campaigning up at featherweight, appears to be a rejuvenated version of his former self.
An obvious next step, it seems, would be for him to collide with the winner of Lee McGregor vs Nathanial Collins, which takes place on May 24.
And with that particular matchup featuring on a Queensberry Promotions card, too, it should be fairly straightforward for Davies to shoehorn himself into the mix.
Lewis Edmondson vs Ezra Taylor slated for July
With the pair having gone back-and-forth over social media and in real life for quite some time, their eagerly anticipated showdown now looks to be just around the corner.
Ezra Taylor made sure to keep his British and Commonwealth title ambitions alive. While he was introduced to a career-toughest test, he nonetheless outpointed a very tenacious Troy Jones.
In doing so, the 30-year-old looks set to square off against Lewis Edmondson before long, with the pair mentioning July 19 as a likely date.
But regardless of whether it takes place at Wembley Stadium, their light-heavyweight dustup should ultimately deliver an absorbing clash of styles.
Referee Steve Gray dropped a clanger
While the standard of British officiating remains a contentious discussion point, Steve Gray has established himself as one of the more competent characters both in and out of the ring.
His judging display for the main event, however, represented far from a smooth night at the office, with the Lancashire man somehow arriving at a conclusion of 77-75 in favour of Wood.
Prior to his stoppage defeat, Wood had, in fairness to Gray, produced a strong performance off the back of his 19-month layoff.
And yet, to have him two points ahead through eight rounds seems a stretch too far, especially for one of the more seasoned officials on these shores.
Leigh Wood’s future remains unclear
Regardless of whether he now chooses to hang up the gloves, Wood’s career will be remembered entirely for its awe-inspiring and pulse-pounding moments.
Two stunning come-from-behind victories over Michael Conlan and Josh Warrington, in particular, have already earned their place in British boxing folklore.
But now, it is up to the Nottingham man to make a decision, as while he has always admitted that this could be his final year in the sport, last night’s defeat to Cacace may have just hurried the process.
Either way, the 36-year-old will be widely celebrated for his remarkable warrior’s spirit in years to come.
Anthony Cacace could beat O’Shaquie Foster
While the matchup is hardly set in stone, it would appear that Cacace and his team are exploring a potential shot at WBC world super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster.
The American has established himself as an agonisingly awkward customer, always looking to tie each opponent up in knots with his educated footwork.
But Cacace, too, possesses a largely versatile skill set, with the switch-hitter remaining technically polished while also carrying dynamite in both fists.
A clash between the pair would certainly make for an intriguing chess match, but when considering his last three performances, it would be almost criminal to bet against the Irishman at this point.
