Cacace v Ball

ANTHONY CACACE WILL make a first defence of his WBA world super featherweight title against Nick Ball, bidding to become a two-weight world champion, in Cacace’s home city of Belfast on Saturday December 19, live on DAZN. 

The O2 Belfast will host this Belfast vs Liverpool domestic showdown between two of the finest fighters currently operating in the sport. 

Cacace (25-1, 9 KOs) won his world title belt with a unanimous decision defeat of Jazza Dickens in Dublin back in March, having previously held the IBF and IBO world featherweight titles. 

The former British champion defeated Michael Magnesi in September 2024 to become IBO world champion, before making a successful defence of the belt against Damian Wrzesinski the following May. 

He became IBF champion a year later when, in Riyadh, he overwhelmed title holder Joe Cordina to force an eighth round stoppage. His next stop was Wembley Stadium four months later where he outpointed former world champion Josh Warrington, with his IBO title on the line. 

In May of last year Cacace accounted for another English favourite on his home patch when he stopped Leigh Wood in the ninth round in Nottingham. 

In November 2023, Ball positioned himself for world honours by overwhelming former world champion Isaac Dogboe in a final eliminator for a shot at the WBC world featherweight title. 

His big chance came in March - again in Riyadh -  when, after a slow start, Ball got the measure of his much taller opponent, the champion Rey Vargas, and floored his man twice in the second half of the fight, only for the scorecards to declare a controversial draw.  

Less than three months later, Ball was awarded another world title chance against Ford and this time Ball got the verdict he wanted and deserved. 

He made a successful first defence of his world title against former world title challenger Ronny Rios in Liverpool in October 2024, stopping Rios in the 10th round. 

 Then, in March 2025 in Liverpool, he set about a former world champion in TJ Doheny, the rugged Irishman. In a rough and tough encounter, Doheny had his moments, but Ball ultimately overwhelmed the older man in the 10th round.  

He then returned to Riyadh in the August to make a third defence of his world title belt against Sam Goodman and got the job done over the 12 round distance. 

Ball’s first career falter came in February back in Liverpool in a mandatory defence of his title against the American Brandon Figueroa. The Heartbreaker landed big in the final round to close the show in his favour. 

Now Ball will shoot to become world champion again at a new weight. 

“This is one of the best fights that can be made, certainly in British boxing,” said promoter Frank Warren. “You just know what you are going to get and that is a classic confrontation between two great fighters.  

“This fight is about as 50-50 as you are going to get in this sport and the Belfast crowd are in for a treat.”