Magee plots Cacace’s route out of the wilderness to world glory
ANTHONY Cacace’s career has had more false dawns than Theresa May’s Brexit plans but it does now seem he has been handed a golden opportunity in 10 days’ time to exit his latest cul-de-sac.
The Belfast man – regarded within the local boxing fraternity as someone with talent to burn – turned 30 earlier this month and almost seven years to the day he made his professional debut, Cacace will enter a make-or-break bout in the O2 Arena on the supporting bill to the ITV Box Office clash between James DeGale and Chris Eubank jnr.
The return of ITV to boxing in a serious way is intrinsic to the path that may lie ahead for former British title challenger Cacace, whose manager Pat Magee has a good relationship with promoter Richard Poxon. His tie-up with ITV and most importantly American powerbroker Al Haymon offers Cacace more hope than ever before that he can fulfil his potential.
A solitary defeat in a British title fight to Martin J Ward in May 2017, when he failed to sparkle, hurt his career more than he could have imagined while the hard-hitting Belfast man has spent the last 14 months on the sidelines through a series of injuries and illness. But manager Magee is adamant he can banish the blues and come into light when he meets rugged Argentinian Alan Isiais Luques Castillo over 10 rounds.
“Anthony has a great chance now to show ITV, Al Haymon and everyone else that he is someone who is a real threat in the super-featherweight division – or even at lightweight. This is a huge opportunity and he knows this is make or break, he has to go out and grab it,” said Magee.
“He knows he didn’t do that in the British title fight with Ward but that his history now. It’s about Saturday week against Castillo who is a strong opponent for someone coming back after a 14-month lay-off.
“We’ve gone through a series of missed opportunities through no fault of his own but now he is fit and in good shape and ready to show what he can do. There are plenty in the business who recognise his talent but he has to do it in the ring. It’s not just about winning in the O2 Arena, it’s about looking good and showing Al Haymon and ITV that he deserves bigger opportunities.
“It’s great news that ITV have done a three-year deal to show boxing and they are looking to do six shows a year with a mixture of pay-per-view events like this one as well as free-to-air. For fighters who are not part of the Frank Warren or Eddie Hearn stables this is a big platform to shine on.
“Al Haymon is known as one of the biggest players in world boxing and he can deliver the fights that we want for Anthony.
“I really believe that he could be on the cusp of fighting for a world title by the end of the year if all goes to plan. If he looks good here, then I hope to have him out in the next ITV show which is set for April.”
With his link-up with Poxon, Magee is determined to make sure Cacace remains active as he seeks to push hard up the super-featherweight ratings.
“We’re finally in a position where we can decide what direc- tion we want to move in and it says a lot about his ability that it took some time before we could get someone to box him. Former world title challenger Luke Campbell was offered the fight but never came back and I know he wanted to be on the show.
“Anthony wants big fights, he’ll face any of the big names in the super-featherweight or lightweight divisions in the UK and Europe.
“He knows there is no time to waste. He has matured a lot and he is ready to be fast-tracked. This could be a very big year for him – fingers crossed.”