IBO champ Anthony Cacace insists rival will fold when they fight

IBO champ Anthony Cacace calls out rival: "He will fold"

IBO world super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace has called out American rival Raymond Ford, following the the southpaw's unanimous decision win over Abraham Nova — who stepped in as a late replacement for Cacace — on Saturday, August 16 in Riyadh.

36 from Belfast, 'The Apache' Cacace was originally set to face New Jersey's Ford in Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Itauma-Whyte, but was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

Instead, the Northern Irishman was a spectator as the 26-year-old 'Savage' took his professional record up to 18-1-1 with a victory over Puerto Rican 'Super Nova' in his second appearance in Riyadh, after losing to Nick Ball in June 2024 in their WBA featherweight title fight.

But the IBO world titleholder was unimpressed by the man he missed out on the chance to take on.

The 36-year-old said on social media: "Ray Ford, a typical American fighter, can talk the talk, but the guy has no engine. If pushed, he will fold."

The Belfast boxer fancies his chances more than ever in a fight with world title contender Ford, who won 96-94 and 97-93-twice on the judges' scorecards on Saturday night.

The powerful Cacace last fought in May when he stopped Leigh Wood in the ninth round of their IBO World super-featherweight title fight, having having vacated his IBF belt in January.

Cacace has now defeated three British world champions in a row - Leigh Wood, Josh Warrington, Joe Cordina - all within a year between May 2024 to May 2025.

His lone career defeat came eight years ago when the Irish and Celtic champion stepped up to challenge for the British and Commonwealth super-featherweight belts and was decisioned unanimously by Martin J Ward.

He has since won nine bouts in a row - seven of which were title fights - winning the British belt on his second attempt, as well as IBO and IBF world titles.