Anthony Cacace’s remarkable late-career run has hit a painful roadblock. The 36-year-old Belfast southpaw has withdrawn from his scheduled August 16 junior-lightweight eliminator with Raymond Ford after suffering a back injury in camp, sources confirmed Tuesday night.
Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) was coming off three consecutive victories over former world champions - Joe Cordina, Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood - that rocketed him to No. 3 in The Ring’s rankings and within touching distance of another title shot. The setback cancels a bout earmarked as Ford’s gateway back to championship contention after the New Jersey southpaw lost his WBA featherweight belt to Nick Ball last year.
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Riyadh Season matchmakers are scrambling to keep Ford on the ANB Arena bill, but with five weeks to go a suitable replacement at 130 lbs is far from guaranteed. If no opponent emerges, Ford is expected to shift to a future Saudi card later in the year.
The August 16 show still boasts plenty of intrigue: Ball defends his featherweight title against unbeaten Aussie Sam Goodman, while heavyweight prospects square off in Moses Itauma-Dillian Whyte and Filip Hrgović-David Adeleye. Cacace’s withdrawal, however, strips the card of a compelling boxer-puncher clash and leaves the junior-lightweight landscape waiting on a new dance date.
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