On that same night, Ball was involved in a grueling encounter with South Africa’s Ludumo Lamati. That fight ended in distressing circumstances when Lamati suffered a stroke in the ring following a final-round stoppage. While the South African has since made a full recovery, the night remains a somber reminder of the risks inherent in the sport. Interestingly, Ball admitted that the shared history of that card had slipped his mind. "I didn’t even know that," he remarked, focusing instead on the opportunity to return to Belfast and claim a second world title in a higher weight division.
Since that night in 2023, Ball’s career has been a rollercoaster of high-level competition. He fell just short in his first world title attempt against Rey Vargas, which resulted in a split-decision draw, before finally reaching the summit in his next outing with a victory over Raymond Ford to claim the featherweight crown. However, his momentum was halted in February of this year during a defense against Brandon Figueroa.
In what was a highly competitive, back-and-forth affair over twelve rounds, Ball’s undefeated record was snapped in the final frame. He was dropped twice and eventually stopped, marking his first loss in 25 professional bouts. Reflecting on that defeat, Ball remains pragmatic. "It was a good fight, back and forth for 12 rounds and he caught me with a good shot in the last round," he said. "He threw an overhand left counter as I was throwing, so that’s what happened. It’s boxing, it’s part of the game."
Moving up to the super-featherweight division to challenge Cacace represents a significant physical leap for Ball. He will be conceding considerable height and reach advantages to the champion, who is known for his ability to use his frame and long-range punching to control the tempo of a fight. Ball, often described as a "bundle of aggression," relies on closing the distance and overwhelming opponents with volume and power.
Despite the physical discrepancy, the Liverpudlian is undeterred. He believes the move up in weight will benefit his physicality, making him "stronger and more comfortable" without the grueling weight cuts associated with the featherweight limit. As for the reach advantage Cacace holds, Ball views it as just another day at the office. "All fights are challenging," he countered. "The reach and the size advantage, I’ve been doing that my whole career, so that’s nothing new to me."
‘Dream come true’ for Cacace to defend at home
For Anthony Cacace, the December 19 date is about more than just retaining a belt; it is a homecoming that has been over a decade in the making. Throughout a 26-fight career that began in 2012, Cacace has fought in his native Belfast on only five occasions. For a fighter of his caliber, the lack of local exposure has often been a point of frustration, but the timing of this defense feels like a poetic culmination of his recent successes.
