Anthony Cacace vs Leigh Wood

The Nottingham Motorpoint arena on Saturday May 10 will host a thrilling confrontation between IBO super featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace and the local hero Leigh Wood, the former two-time WBA world featherweight champion.

It is the domestic blockbuster of the division, with Wood stepping up in a bid to become a two-weight world champion against the Belfast star who is enjoying a glorious conclusion to his career.

Also featuring on the card, with many additions to be confirmed, is the WBC International light heavyweight champion Ezra Taylor, who will be fighting in his home city for the first time since his professional debut in 2020.

Cacace (23-1, 8 KOs) became British champion at super featherweight in November 2019 with a split decision win over reigning champion Sam Bowen in Birmingham. He was subsequently signed by Frank Warren and defended his belt successfully against Lyon Woodstock in 2021.

His IBO world title opportunity came in September 2022 when he took on the undefeated champion Michael Magnesia in Manchester and victory came via split decision in a fight it is widely considered he won clearly. He defended the belt in Belfast against Damian Wrzesinski in May 2023, winning by unanimous decision.

The major breakthrough came in Riyadh in May of last year when he entered into a unification against IBF world champion Joe Cordina. The Welshman was put down in the third round and largely overwhelmed before the fight was stopped in the eighth.

Cacace later defended his IBO title at Wembley Stadium in October when he took on former two-time featherweight world champion Josh Warrington and outpointed the Leeds man.

Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) is he former two-time WBA featherweight champion of the world.

The 36-year-old from Nottingham became WBA champion in July 2021 when he overwhelmed the feared Chinese force Can Xu during the Covid-19 restrictions and successfully defended the belt in an epic confrontation with Irish Olympian Michael Conlan at the Nottingham Arena.

Back in Nottingham nearly a year later, it was Wood who suffered a stoppage against the big-hitting Mexican Mauricio Lara before regaining his title status with a decision triumph over Lara.

He took on Leeds rival and former IBF world champion Josh Warrington in Sheffield back in October 2023. The champion responded to a strong Warrington start in the seventh round with a brutal combination that sent Warrington spiralling to the canvas and he didn’t recover sufficiently for the referee to allow him to continue.

Wood, who lost out in a British title challenge against Gavin McDonnell at super bantamweight in 2014, won the Midlands Area belt featherweight in 2016 and became Commonwealth champion in 2019, making one defence, before winning the WBO European title.

A big turning point in his career came with his teaming up with trainer Ben Davison and subsequently becoming British featherweight champion with victory over the previously unbeaten Reece Mould.