THE deal is not “100 per cent” done, but it seems certain that Anto Cacace will defend his IBO super-featherweight belt against New Jersey ‘Savage’ Raymond Ford in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on August 16.
Cacace had pencilled in a return to the ring in Belfast in November but once the lucrative offer was made last Thursday the 36-year-old ‘Andytown Apache’ was back in the Holy Trinity gym training on the Friday.
At 26, Ford (17-1-1 with eight stoppage wins) is 10 years’ Cacace’s junior but the Belfast champion’s coach and manager Michael Hawkins junior expects another glorious win for a fighter who is ageing like fine wine.
“The SSE Arena was provisionally booked for November but then this came up and it’s hard to say ‘no’,” he explained.
“You couldn’t turn it down no matter what way you looked at it – he’ll earn a lot more than he would for fighting in Belfast. We’ll take it one at a time, we’ve got 10 weeks to get ready now and If this fight goes well then, who knows, maybe we can do the SSE fight as well.
“It might be too quick of a turnaround because his hands are still a bit sore from the Wood fight and he still has a couple of wee niggles. Then again, it’s only been four weeks since Wood. He got the phonecall on Thursday night about this fight and he was up in the gym on Friday.”
Cacace will defend his IBO belt on the night although there is the possibly that the Ring Magazine title could be added to the mix.
New Jersey native Ford fought in Saudi Arabia last summer when he lost to highly-rated Scouser Nick Ball on split decision. He has some impressive wins on his record including former super-bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno but he is coming up from featherweight against a seasoned campaigner.
At his best, Cacace will be a step-up for him.
“Ford is moving up from featherweight but he was a big featherweight,” said Hawkins.
“He lost to Nick Ball but it was very close. Anto’s not Nick Ball, styles make fights and I’d say this one could be harder than the Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood fights but Ford’s not as good as Joe Cordina.
“It’s definitely winnable. You could say Ford has youth on his side and all the rest but Anto is experienced, he has been 12 rounds numerous times and he can do it again. I don’t think age comes into it – if Anto goes in there 100 per cent he wins.
“Ford is a southpaw, an aggressive southpaw and that should suit Anto.”
Ford’s youth and aggressive style could make him a tougher proposition (on paper at least) than Warrington and Wood but Cacace beat both of them with a bit to spare – Warrington clearly on points and Wood by stoppage – so ‘The Apache’ camp will be confident of continuing their winning run.
“I don’t think Ray Ford will have been in with anybody who hits as hard as Anto does,” said Hawkins.
“Anto is the best super-featherweight about and Ford is moving up. Ford is aggressive and he’ll want to come forward but once Anto hits him it’ll change things.”
Cacace was nervous in the build-up to his clash with Wood in Nottingham last month. Wood had been in with some quality operators and had come through the pain barrier to win more than once.
But from the moment Cacace caught him flush with a right hook the fight was over.
Wood winced as the shot landed and with the colour draining from his face, primal survival instincts kicked in and he almost ran for cover. He had his back to Cacace when the towel came in from his corner to finish it.
“Joe Cordina would be the best of the three Anto’s fought in the last three fights,” said Hawkins.
“But Wood was this big puncher so I would say the best performance was between Cordina and Wood - it’s a toss of a coin - but career-best win would probably be Cordina.
“Fresh off the back of the Leigh Wood fight with no real injuries, I think it suits Anto to go back into camp, this would be the quickest turnaround of his career. To be back out again so soon, I think it suits him and it just keeps the momentum going.
“Anto had a holiday booked, he was meant to go on the 19th of June. He was told he was back out in Belfast in November and then on Thursday night we got the phonecall.
“So, to be back out again is a bit of a shock to everybody, but everybody is ready to go and go back to Saudi. Saudi the first time was just a dream, so if it’s half as good as it was last time, it’ll be worthwhile.”
THE deal is not “100 per cent” done, but it seems certain that Anto Cacace will defend his IBO super-featherweight belt against New Jersey ‘Savage’ Raymond Ford in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on August 16.
Cacace had pencilled in a return to the ring in Belfast in November but once the lucrative offer was made last Thursday the 36-year-old ‘Andytown Apache’ was back in the Holy Trinity gym training on the Friday.
At 26, Ford (17-1-1 with eight stoppage wins) is 10 years’ Cacace’s junior but the Belfast champion’s coach and manager Michael Hawkins junior expects another glorious win for a fighter who is ageing like fine wine.
“The SSE Arena was provisionally booked for November but then this came up and it’s hard to say ‘no’,” he explained.
“You couldn’t turn it down no matter what way you looked at it – he’ll earn a lot more than he would for fighting in Belfast. We’ll take it one at a time, we’ve got 10 weeks to get ready now and If this fight goes well then, who knows, maybe we can do the SSE fight as well.
“It might be too quick of a turnaround because his hands are still a bit sore from the Wood fight and he still has a couple of wee niggles. Then again, it’s only been four weeks since Wood. He got the phonecall on Thursday night about this fight and he was up in the gym on Friday.”
Cacace will defend his IBO belt on the night although there is the possibly that the Ring Magazine title could be added to the mix.
New Jersey native Ford fought in Saudi Arabia last summer when he lost to highly-rated Scouser Nick Ball on split decision. He has some impressive wins on his record including former super-bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno but he is coming up from featherweight against a seasoned campaigner.
At his best, Cacace will be a step-up for him.
“Ford is moving up from featherweight but he was a big featherweight,” said Hawkins.
“He lost to Nick Ball but it was very close. Anto’s not Nick Ball, styles make fights and I’d say this one could be harder than the Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood fights but Ford’s not as good as Joe Cordina.
“It’s definitely winnable. You could say Ford has youth on his side and all the rest but Anto is experienced, he has been 12 rounds numerous times and he can do it again. I don’t think age comes into it – if Anto goes in there 100 per cent he wins.
“Ford is a southpaw, an aggressive southpaw and that should suit Anto.”
Ford’s youth and aggressive style could make him a tougher proposition (on paper at least) than Warrington and Wood but Cacace beat both of them with a bit to spare – Warrington clearly on points and Wood by stoppage – so ‘The Apache’ camp will be confident of continuing their winning run.
“I don’t think Ray Ford will have been in with anybody who hits as hard as Anto does,” said Hawkins.
“Anto is the best super-featherweight about and Ford is moving up. Ford is aggressive and he’ll want to come forward but once Anto hits him it’ll change things.”
Cacace was nervous in the build-up to his clash with Wood in Nottingham last month. Wood had been in with some quality operators and had come through the pain barrier to win more than once.
But from the moment Cacace caught him flush with a right hook the fight was over.
Wood winced as the shot landed and with the colour draining from his face, primal survival instincts kicked in and he almost ran for cover. He had his back to Cacace when the towel came in from his corner to finish it.
“Joe Cordina would be the best of the three Anto’s fought in the last three fights,” said Hawkins.
“But Wood was this big puncher so I would say the best performance was between Cordina and Wood - it’s a toss of a coin - but career-best win would probably be Cordina.
“Fresh off the back of the Leigh Wood fight with no real injuries, I think it suits Anto to go back into camp, this would be the quickest turnaround of his career. To be back out again so soon, I think it suits him and it just keeps the momentum going.
“Anto had a holiday booked, he was meant to go on the 19th of June. He was told he was back out in Belfast in November and then on Thursday night we got the phonecall.
“So, to be back out again is a bit of a shock to everybody, but everybody is ready to go and go back to Saudi. Saudi the first time was just a dream, so if it’s half as good as it was last time, it’ll be worthwhile.”
PIERCE O’Leary was crowned EBU and WBC International super-lightweight champion after he boxed his way to a unanimous points win over Liam Dillon at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium on Saturday night.
O’Leary was a clear winner over the 12 rounds but there is better to come from the Dubliner who was never troubled by battling Londoner Dillon who stepped up from super-featherweight.
A Dublin homecoming in August looks on the cards for O’Leary now and he will be chasing the likes of Dalton Smith, Adam Azim, Harlem Eubank and Jack Catterall in the competitive 140lb division.
Meanwhile, Steven Ward may have come to the end of the road after he lost to former heavyweight contender Mike Perez.
Challenging for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title, Ward had his moments against Perez who, although 39, retains his solid physique and shuddering power off both hands.
Ward was pinned on the ropes in the sixth but weathered the storm until Perez caught up with the Belfast fighter in the eighth and clubbed him to the canvas with 44 seconds left in the round. Ward got back on his feet but soaked up a lot of punishment before the bell sounded. However, it brought only temporary respite as the Cuban-born wrecking ball finished it in the ninth.
