Sport

Cacace prospects not damaged after Covid test rules Woodstock out of British title fight

Belfast boxer Anthony Cacace hopes to return to action by early April. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Belfast boxer Anthony Cacace hopes to return to action by early April. Picture by Hugh Russell. Belfast boxer Anthony Cacace hopes to return to action by early April. Picture by Hugh Russell.

ANTHONY Cacace’s future prospects haven’t been damaged because his British super-featherweight title fight was cancelled, insists his manager Pat Magee.

Cacace was due to defend his Lonsdale belt against Leon Woodstock tomorrow night but the fight was called off after Woodstock tested positive for Covid-19. Attempts were made to find a new opponent for Cacace but it is understood that one potential stand-in was over-weight while another turned down the offer.

With Covid testing to be completed before today’s weigh-in, time ran out on finding a new man so Cacace and trainer Harry Hawkins have had to pack up his gear return home and wait for the next opportunity to come along. Magee is confident they won’t have to wait for long.

“We weren’t able to find an alternative for Anthony,” said Magee.

“Frank Warren has two shows at the end of March and we’ll be targeting one or other of those shows. It’s unlikely it will be a British title fight because Woodstock wouldn’t be available at that stage and, after all, this was only a voluntary defence by Anthony.

“But we’ll be looking for a title fight of some kind on one of those March shows.”

Now 32, Cacace is anxious to kick on with his career but Magee has assured the Belfast fighter – who didn’t box at all last year - that this week’s events will not harm his future prospects.

“It’s not so much a setback, it’s a delay,” said Magee.

“Who knows? Sometimes there things work out for the best. We’re living in these uncertain times and it was better to find out today rather than the day of the fight.

“Woodstock is out of the picture but that’s not going to stop Anthony. It’ll delay his future prospects but it hasn’t damaged them. It would have been far worse if Anthony had tested positive, he has done everything that was expected of him and he’s not going to suffer because of what has happened.”

Cacace (32) is currently ranked nine with the WBA and there is the possibility that he could now adjust his sights to target a push for an inter-continental belt which would push him up the rankings and within touch of a world title shot.

Tomorrow night’s bill at London’s Copper Box Arena had already lost its original headline act when Carl Frampton’s challenge for the WBO super-featherweight title was postponed. Cacace-Woodstock was moved up from chief support but now it has been cancelled leaving promoter Frank Warren in a difficult situation.

Frampton and Herring have both been frustrated by postponements – their fight was originally scheduled for last summer – and Herring says he is determined to make “a statement” when the fight finally goes ahead on April 3.

“The postponements have been frustrating, but I’m happy that this fight is still happening,” said the WBO champion.

“I want to thank Top Rank, my manager Brian McIntyre and MTK for working behind the scenes to keep things on track because it definitely wasn’t easy keeping this event together.

“I still have the same hunger I had when this fight will first presented. After watching the great performance Oscar Valdez showcased over the weekend, I’m definitely looking forward to making a statement in this exciting division.

“I know a victory over Frampton will lead to bigger and better things down the road, but I have to take care of Carl Frampton first and I’m totally focused on defending my title on April 3.”

Elsewhere, Belfast super-middleweight Padraig McCrory (11-0) will take on former Southern Area champion Germaine Brown (9-0) in Bolton on March 19.

Also on the card is Paul Hyland jnr who meets experienced Maxi Hughes for the vacant British lightweight title while Dubliner Paul Ryan makes his professional debut against Kyle Hughes (2-2).