As the lights prepare to dim and the atmosphere intensifies at the recently renamed O2 Belfast, WBA super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace finds himself standing at the intersection of a long-awaited homecoming and the potential for a legacy-defining future. On December 19, the 37-year-old Belfast native will make the maiden defense of his world title against Liverpool’s Nick Ball, a former WBA featherweight champion known for a relentless, high-pressure style. Yet, even as the local hero prepares for the most significant night of his professional life on home soil, the shadow of a modern boxing legend has begun to loom over the proceedings.
In recent days, reports have surfaced suggesting that the legendary Vasiliy Lomachenko, a multi-weight world champion and one of the most decorated amateur and professional fighters in the history of the sport, has his sights set on the winner of the Cacace-Ball clash. According to ESPN’s Brian Custer, the returning Ukrainian maestro is monitoring the situation closely, potentially setting the stage for a massive unification or high-stakes encounter in 2025.
For Cacace, the mention of Lomachenko—a man widely regarded as a pound-for-pound great—is both a surreal acknowledgement of his own rise to the top and a potential distraction he is determined to avoid. While the prospect of facing such an icon represents the ultimate realization of a career-long dream, "The Apache" is adamant that his immediate focus cannot waver from the dangerous task at hand in December.
"I’m not really thinking about that just now, I just kind of want to focus fully on Nick Ball and this fight coming up," Cacace insisted during a recent press conference. The champion admitted to a sense of disbelief when the rumors first reached him, noting the stark contrast between his current status and his years spent fighting in the relative shadows of the sport. "I woke up to them type of things [Lomachenko interest] going to myself, ‘what?’. To see that type of stuff blows my mind, but it’s one of those things and I’m just super grateful for it all."
The connection to Lomachenko is not merely a recent development in Cacace’s mind. It is a thread that stretches back over a decade, to a time when the Belfast man was still a prospect looking for a breakthrough. "I remember putting a tweet out in 2012 calling out Lomachenko," Cacace recalled with a smile. "So if that fight ever materialises, I’ll get that tweet sorted."
Despite the allure of a superfight, the logistical path forward remains complex. The WBA has already provided a clear directive: the winner of the December 19 bout must face Russia’s Elnur Samedov in their next outing. This mandatory obligation means that any potential clash with Lomachenko would require careful negotiation and the navigation of governing body rotations. For now, however, those administrative hurdles are secondary to the physical challenge presented by Nick Ball.
Size disadvantage no concern for Ball
The challenger, Nick Ball, arrives in Belfast with a reputation for being one of the most exciting and durable fighters in the lower weight classes. The 29-year-old Liverpudlian is no stranger to the O2 Belfast, though his history with the venue and his opponent is more intertwined than he initially realized. The last time Cacace boxed in this arena was in 2023, where he secured a points victory over Damian Wrzesinski on the undercard of a major bill headlined by Luis Alberto Lopez and Michael Conlan.
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.
Cacace’s rise to the top of the WBA rankings has been one of the most heartwarming stories in British and Irish boxing. Long considered one of the most talented but under-promoted fighters in the country, he finally broke through to the world stage in 2024. His career-defining moment came in Saudi Arabia, where he stunned the boxing world by stopping the highly-regarded Joe Cordina to capture the IBF version of the super-featherweight title.
That victory acted as a springboard. Although he later vacated the IBF title, his trajectory remained upward. Wins over high-profile names like Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood further solidified his standing as a elite operator at 130 pounds. Those successes paved the way for a shot at the then-WBA champion James ‘Jazza’ Dickens earlier this year, a fight that saw Cacace produce another masterclass to claim the black-and-gold belt.
"I always wanted to come back and have one big show," Cacace said, reflecting on the journey that led him back to Belfast. "It’s a dream come true. I never believed I’d be in this situation, but here I am."
The champion is under no illusions about the style of fight Nick Ball will bring to the ring. He expects a relentless assault from the opening bell, but he believes his experience and versatility will be the deciding factors. "I’m just expecting the usual Nick Ball, [he’ll] come forward with aggression. I feel like I can do it all. I can deal with him and deal with those styles for 20-plus years, so it’s just going to be another fight, another good fight and hopefully a good show for Belfast."
As the city of Belfast prepares to host its latest world title clash, the stakes could not be higher. For Nick Ball, it is a chance to prove that his loss to Figueroa was merely a setback and that he belongs among the elite in a second weight class. For Anthony Cacace, it is an opportunity to cement his legacy in front of his own people and perhaps, if the stars align, secure a date with greatness in the form of Vasiliy Lomachenko.
With the O2 Belfast expected to be at capacity, the clash between the tall, technical champion and the short, explosive challenger promises to be a highlight of the boxing calendar. While the boxing world may be looking ahead to potential unifications and legendary match-ups, the two men in the center of the ring on December 19 will be focused only on each other, and the gold that hangs in the balance.
