Anthony Cacace and Leigh Wood will settle their domestic grudge and punch their ticket back to world level this Saturday, 10 May, at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena. Matchroom have confirmed that the victor will become mandatory for a yet‑to‑be‑named belt.  
Belfast’s Cacace rides the momentum of a stellar 2024 in which he ripped the IBF crown from Joe Cordina and turned back Josh Warrington. The 36‑year‑old subsequently vacated that title - “double the money” made the choice “a no‑brainer,” he admits - but remains a 4/6 bookmakers’ favourite thanks to superior timing and south‑paw craft.  
Wood hasn’t boxed since sensationally knocking out Warrington in October 2023, after which he vacated the WBA featherweight strap and moved to 130 lb. The Nottingham hero now returns in his home arena aiming to prove he can still summon the late‑fight thunder that felled Michael Conlan and Warrington. 
Cacace insists the gamble will pay: “The winner — which will be myself — boxes for a world title next,” he told BoxingScene this week. With Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk headlining Wembley in July, promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted that a vacant belt could surface at super‑feather before year’s end, making Saturday’s stakes even higher. 
Punch‑for‑punch intrigue is baked in: Cacace’s cool counter‑punching against Wood’s late‑surge power, Belfast versus the East Midlands, and the guarantee that whoever prevails jumps straight back into world‑championship business. For two veterans on borrowed time, the money fight has become the must‑win fight.
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