Anthony Cacace insists he hurt Joe Cordina “with every single shot” after snatching the IBF super featherweight title from the Welshman in a major upset in Riyadh. He also dismissed complaints from Cordina around a hit after the referee called for a break as “nothing dirty”. The pair were fighting on the Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk undercard, live on TNT Sports Box Office.
Anthony Cacace was left “in shock” after a stunning underdog victory over Joe Cordina, which saw him crowned IBF super featherweight king.
The pair collided in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the ‘Ring of Fire’ card, headlined by Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury v Usyk on TNT Sports Box Office costs £24.99 in the UK and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Virgin Media TV and Prime Video.
Cordina was dropped in round three and ultimately succumbed in the eighth, as the referee was forced to wave off proceedings after a furious flurry.
It marked the first loss of Cordina’s pro career, with the 32-year-old having enjoyed a steady rise to the top after emerging from the Team GB system.
In the last two years, he first won the IBF title by dismantling Kenichi Ogawa on home soil in Cardiff, before winning the sympathy of the boxing public as he was controversially forced to vacate while out injured.
Cordina recovered to win back and then defend his throne in 2023, and as such was installed as a heavy favourite for the Cacace clash.
Cacace, meanwhile, has struggled to get into the ring due to injuries. He was just nine days short of a full year since his last outing, and had fought just three times since 2019.
Now, at the age of 35, he has placed world honours on his resume, adding to the IBO belt – which he admitted “everybody discredits” – with this brilliant TKO win.
Cacace said: “I am in shock. Nobody gave me a chance to do this here. We’ve come all the way to Saudi Arabia to smash up the champion.
“Joe is a hell of a competitor – an Olympian, a two-time world champion. But tonight I was hurting him with every single shot. I have nothing but respect for him and would love to run that back.
“From here on in, I want to be boxing in Saudi Arabia every time. No more back in the UK – Saudi Arabia is the place. Frank Warren, the best promoter in the world by a long shot, for having me here.”
Cacace was also asked about a spiky incident in the third round, where Cordina complained of being hit after the referee called “break”.
Reflecting on that, ‘Apache’ continued: “No, Joe also done the same to me. This is professional boxing, we’re in there for a fight. The referee said ‘break’ as I threw a punch. It was nothing dirty. Eat it up.”
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