Whisper it, but it is looking increasingly likely that Anthony Cacace will finally get the chance to take part in a big fight.
Twelve years into his career, ‘The Apache’ is scheduled to fight for his first major world title on Saturday night when he takes on IBF super featherweight champion, Joe Cordina, in Saudi Arabia.
Scheduled is the correct word. Given the injuries, inactivity and bad luck Cacace has endured over the years, nothing is guaranteed just yet. He and Cordina still have to make it safely up and down the ring steps for Wednesday’s open workout and the 35-year-old will be religiously checking the weather app on his phone to monitor the threat of dust storms.
Cacace, 21-1 (7 KO’s), probably won’t believe his world title shot is actually going to happen until he gets the nod to begin his ring walk on Saturday night.
Cacace has even been withdrawn from a Tyson Fury undercard during fight week once before. In April 20202 he was due to box former world champion, Jhonatan Romero, on the undercard of Fury’s WBC world title defense against Dillian Whyte. He made it to London before being informed that Romero had encountered visa issues and wouldn’t be fighting.
Cacace has finally got his chance and it comes on the undercard of the first undisputed title fight in 25 years. Maybe it was meant to be.
“To me, Joe’s the best 130-pound fighter in the world. For me to get this opportunity against the best, it’s dreamy. It’s gonna propel me right to the very top and if I can win here it changes my life and my children’s lives,” Cacace told Queensberry.
“There’s not one bit of pressure on me. I’m not the two-time world champion. I’ve got nothing to lose here and everything to gain. Joe’s the main man. Let’s not beat around the bush here. He’s the IBF world champion and I’m coming in and everyone thinks he’s gonna blow me away. We’ll have to see. There’s no pressure on me. Not one bit.”
Cacace’s record is deceiving. The awkward southpaw is widely respected within the industry and has a reputation as a concussive, bone breaking puncher but has just seven inside the distance victories on his record and hasn’t stopped anybody in eight years.
Cordina won his first world title with a stunning second round knockout of Kenichi Ogawa but his last two fights have descended into brutal, give and take affairs. His split decision victory over Shavkat Rakhimov was a fight of the year contender whilst Edward Vazquez landed more than his fair share of shots before losing a disputed majority decision.
Cacace certainly isn’t shy of getting involved in a hard, grueling fight and if the sharper and more correct Cordina decides to turn the fight into a sharp shooting contest, he undoubtedly possesses the one punch power to make an impression on the Welshman.
Whichever way the fight goes, Cacace certainly isn’t going to withdraw into his shell. Having waited so long, he is going to throw everything at it.
“I’m fighting a two-time world champion. Joe Cordina is a very good, special fighter but I’m here to do the job. I’m not here to mess about,” he said.
“It’s a world title shot. This is what I’ve worked my whole life for. I’ve sacrificed so much to get here so I’m just ready to take over and do the job.
“[I’m bringing] Power and determination. Joe’s a very good fighter so I’m not gonna give away any gameplans but I’m here for a fight and that’s it.
“I’m gonna win. I’m gonna try my very best to win anyway. By any means necessary. It does not matter. I can make it ugly, pretty, whichever way you want it to be. As long as my hand is getting raised, that’s all that matters.”