THIS Saturday’s super-featherweight bout between Anthony Cacace and Josh Warrington will not be for the IBF world title.
Instead, Cacace and Warrington will fight in a non-title bout, but there will be repercussions for the champion should he lose. If Warrington earns his 32nd career win, then the belt which Cacace won against Joe Cordina will become vacant. If Cacace triumphs, he must fight mandatory challenger Eduardo Nunez by March 20, 2025.
The fighters are scheduled to meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday as part of a sturdy undercard to the main event between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. There had already been doubt, however, as to whether Cacace would be allowed to defend his world title against his opponent. The Daily Star’s Chris McKenna reported yesterday that the governing body were yet to confirm Warrington as a challenger ‘because he has not fought in the 9st 4lb division in over a decade and has never been ranked’.
Today, the IBF made their ruling reiterating that Nunez had stepped aside to allow Cacace and Warrington to take place.
Cacace upset the odds in May to stop Joe Cordina in eight rounds, meanwhile, Warrington is coming off a seventh-round stoppage defeat to Leigh Wood, his second consecutive defeat.