BoxRec

Joe Cordina-Anthony Cacace IBF Title Fight Targeted For Feb. 17 Fury-Usyk Card In Riyadh

Anthony Cacace finally caught a break in his hard luck career.

Boxing Scene has learned that plans are in place for Belfast’s Cacace to challenge two-time and reigning IBF junior lightweight titlist Joe Cordina. The bout is targeted for February 17 on the undercard of the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The development was first reported by IFL TV’s Colm McGuigan.

Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs) will attempt the second defense of his current title reign.

It will mark a relatively quick turnaround for the unbeaten Welshman, who most recently turned away a stiff challenge from Texas’ Edward Vazquez last November 4 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Cordina regained the IBF title in a twelve-round decision win over Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov last April 22 in his Cardiff hometown. He was previously stripped of the belt for failure to honor a mandatory defense versus Rakhimov after he suffered a broken hand ahead of their planned November 2022 meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs) has won six in a row since his lone career defeat. However, his career has been crippled by inactivity. He was due to fight on Hall of Fame promoter allegedly’s Magnificent Seven card in a scheduled 12-round IBO title fight versus Ryan Garner last November 18 but was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury.

The setback left him out of the ring since last May 27 when he soundly outpointed Poland’s Damian Wrzesinski over twelve rounds in his Belfast hometown. This bout will mark Cacace’s first shot at a major title.

The show will mark the third event to take place during the current Riyadh season. It kicked off—from a boxing perspective—with Fury’s near-scare versus former UFC heavyweight champion and pro boxing debutant Francis Ngannou last October 28. Most recently, the region played host to the December 23 ‘Day of Reckoning’ eight-fight mega card.

I don’t mind the fight but it’s the type of fight that should be happening in the U.K.

They’re in a tricky spot with Cordina in that he sells out but not massive. He wants the big fights but all the other champs (except Roach - not sure who he is signed with) are with Top Rank and they were probably planning on Cordina/Wood but the Warrington fight is now bigger.

Obviously a fight like Cordina vs Foster (before he signed with Top Rank) or Roach should be the kinds of fights we’re getting in the U.K. as part of the monthly sub so it’s disappointing that Joe’s having to fight lesser fights overseas.

Good though that he’s out relatively quickly after his last fight.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 15:24

Looks a great card.
Some fun HW KOs on the undercard, then Jai Breidis 2 - that's great !
Chuck in a Cordina defence and I'm sure we're all interested to see what's left of Krusher

Think Opetaia will stop Breidis this time around.

Love Cach, seems like a sound fella. Think this is a close fight and might resemble the Rakhimov fight for Joe

Winner can fight wood Warrington winner.

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:06 Think Opetaia will stop Breidis this time around.

jesus only just seen he's rematching Breidis. Not a shy fella is Jai.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:33

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:06 Think Opetaia will stop Breidis this time around.

jesus only just seen he's rematching Breidis. Not a shy fella is Jai.

He can clean out the division this year at this rate.

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 17:13

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:33

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:06 Think Opetaia will stop Breidis this time around.

jesus only just seen he's rematching Breidis. Not a shy fella is Jai.

He can clean out the division this year at this rate.

Does that fight have a thread?
Don’t see what Maris can do different this time and it’s unlikely he breaks his jaw again.

No one at cruiser gives him any grief now I don’t think. If Berterbiev goes undisputed then moves up I’d love to see that.

Cacace gets world title opportunity on Fury-Usyk undercard

THE big opportunity that Anthony Cacace (21-1, 7KOs) craved has finally arrived as it is confirmed he will take on IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.

West Belfast's 'Apache' will challenge the Welshman on the undercard of the undisputed heavyweight title blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh - a night in which the eyes of the world will be on the event.

Cacace claimed the IBO belt in September 2022 and successfully defended it against Damian Wrzesinski at the SSE Arena last May.

He was due to face Ryan Garner in November in Manchester, but injury forced him to withdraw. But with that issue now cleared, the 34-year-old makes the step up to face Cordina in a fight he has been calling for and one that had been rumoured for a number of weeks.

It will be a big challenge against the unbeaten Cardiff native (17-0, 9KOs) who won the title initially won the title in 2022 with a stunning second-round knockout of Kenichi Ogawa, but was forced to relinquish the strap as he was unable to face his mandatory challenger in time due to injury.

However, the 32-year-old regained the title in his next outing when coming through in a thriller against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov - whom he was initially due to defend against - by way of a split decision last April and made a successful defence against Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo in November on a majority decision.

He will represent the toughest test of Cacace's career, but is also the opportunity the former St Oliver Plunkett amateur has been waiting for.

His career has been blighted by misfortune, injury and inactivity, but since his sole defeat to Martin J Ward in 2017, has gone on a run of six wins to put himself front and centre for a world title opportunity.

That is now just weeks away as he gets his shot on what is set to be a monumental night for the sport.

Delta Jay wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 17:31

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 17:13

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Jan 2024, 16:33

jesus only just seen he's rematching Breidis. Not a shy fella is Jai.

He can clean out the division this year at this rate.

Does that fight have a thread?
Don’t see what Maris can do different this time and it’s unlikely he breaks his jaw again.

No one at cruiser gives him any grief now I don’t think. If Berterbiev goes undisputed then moves up I’d love to see that.

me too and he fought at higher weight as an am with some success, beat Hunter.

I don't expect much from that fight at all, tbh.
Breidis is now 39, he hasn't fought since his loss to Opetaia. Instead of fighting, he has been chasing a payday with YouTubers. Compare to Opetaia who is in his prime at 28 and has been staying active.

Might be fun, but seems kind of pointless

Def won't pay for this card.

I'll watch fury Usyk and jai breidis on YouTube

new date

Finally we get closer to this

Cacace not a puncher, I can't see anything other than a solid win for Cordina.

Cacace brings plenty of skill and a decent engine to the table though. I think it’s a decent match up.

Good to see Kabayel v Sanchez facing off after their showings last time. Hint of UFC about that matchmaking, nice.

Should be a decent little fight. Cacace on points

Cacace is rated on here. I have not seem him much, going to educate myself on him before this one.

I think Cordina was expected to win easier than he did last time out and there was talk of him being tight at the weight

Shocked by some predictions. Cacace boxed 3 times since 2020. And 1 of those fights was against Woodstock who's below domestic title level. Massive difference going in with a quality operator like Cordina

maley1984 wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 12:50 Shocked by some predictions. Cacace boxed 3 times since 2020. And 1 of those fights was against Woodstock who's below domestic title level. Massive difference going in with a quality operator like Cordina

No idea how anyone can think Cacace deserves this chance or can win

have watched and read re Cacace, this looks like a routine victory for Cordina for me.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 14:20

maley1984 wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 12:50 Shocked by some predictions. Cacace boxed 3 times since 2020. And 1 of those fights was against Woodstock who's below domestic title level. Massive difference going in with a quality operator like Cordina

No idea how anyone can think Cacace deserves this chance or can win

Spot on pal.

Fight Week!!