Anthony Cacace pressured Leigh Wooden’s nook to throw the towel within the ninth spherical, scoring an enormous street win over the Nottingham house favourite.
Wooden (28-4, 17 KO) was dominated down earlier within the ninth spherical when he was knocked into the ropes, which was the appropriate name by referee John Latham, as solely the ropes saved him on his toes.
The towel got here in with 44 seconds remaining within the ninth spherical, as Cacace (24-1, 9 KO) saved touchdown clear photographs, ending what had been an entertaining combat with the usual warrior effort from Wooden, who was simply outgunned shifting up in weight and having not fought in 17 months.
“I obtained the win away, and did the identical as I do at all times. I traveled right here, I conquered,” Cacace mentioned.
Requested whether or not he feels he made the appropriate determination to vacate the IBF belt to take this combat, Cacace mentioned it was all in regards to the cash on supply.
“I took this combat for solely cash, the cash was double (than to combat Eduardo Nunez). That’s why I’m in Nottingham tonight. Present me the cash and I’ll journey wherever. It’s my time now. I’m 36, it’s time for me to maintain her truckin’.”
The identify of WBC titleholder O’Shaquie Foster got here up, too, with Cacace saying he’d “try this combat subsequent week. Let me know what the cash is, it must be higher than tonight.”
Promoter Frank Warren mentioned he intends for Cacace to have a homecoming in Belfast, and in addition credited Wooden for an excellent combat tonight.
“I don’t wish to make any excuses,” Wooden mentioned. “It was exhausting tonight, more durable than regular. He’s an important fighter. If I’m going to lose to anybody, I wish to lose to a gentleman like Anthony Cacace, and I hope he goes on an excellent run. … No disgrace in shedding to a man like him.”
Wooden, 36, mentioned he’s not going to make any selections proper now on persevering with his profession or not.