Belfast's Cacace set to fight Ford in Saudi Arabia
Belfast's Anthony Cacace is set for a return to Saudi Arabia on 16 August to face former world featherweight champion Raymond Ford. According to Ring Magazine, 36-year-old Cacace will seek to continue his recent fairytale run against the 26-year-old New Jersey southpaw on a card topped by a heavyweight contest between rising star Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte.Also in action will be WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball - who relieved Ford of the title last year - in a defence against Australia's Sam Goodman.The Riyadh Season event will give Cacace the chance to cement his position as one of the leading lights of the 130-pound division.He claimed the IBF title with a stunning eighth-round win over Joe Cordina in May 2024 before scoring a victory over Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium in September.That left him with a decision to make in terms of keeping hold of the belt with a mandatory challenger in Eduardo 'Sugar' Nunez next in line, but he opted to relinquish before facing Leigh Wood in Nottingham last month.
Following his ninth-round victory against Wood, there was a strong suggestion Cacace was set for Belfast homecoming, but he was also keen to stress his willingness to travel in order to secure another big payday.Nunez since went on to win the vacant IBF title with a points win over Masanori Rikiishi in Japan last month and would have represented the most realistic path back to an immediate shot at one of the four main titles.O'Shaquie Foster looks set to defend his WBC belt against Stephen Fulton later in the summer, while WBO holder Emanuel Navarrete has been ordered to rematch Charly Suarez after his controversial technical decision victory was changed to a non-contest.With WBA champion Lamont Roach set for a lightweight rematch against Gervonta Davis later in the year, it leaves those super-featherweight title belts tied up, but a meeting with Ford represents a major challenge for Cacace.
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