Cacace to make first world title defence against Ball in Belfast
WBA super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace will defend his belt for the first time against former featherweight champion Nick Ball in his hometown of Belfast on 19 December.
Belfast's Anthony Cacace, 37, will make the first defence of his WBA super-featherweight world title on 19 December, taking on Liverpool's Nick Ball at The O2 in Belfast.
Cacace claimed the title in March with a points win over James 'Jazza' Dickens in Dublin, a result that took his record to 25 wins and one loss and made him a two-time champion at the weight, having previously won and relinquished the IBF belt. His last fight in his home city came in May 2023, when he defended his IBO title against Damian Wrzesinski.
Ball arrives at the fight looking to bounce back from the first defeat of his career, having been stopped in the final round by Brandon Figueroa in February while defending the WBA featherweight title. Ball had won that title in 2024 with a points victory over Raymond Ford, three months after drawing with then-WBC champion Rey Vargas in his first world title attempt. He also fought on the same Belfast card as Cacace in 2023, stopping Ludumo Lamati, who suffered a stroke during the bout but has since recovered. Ball's record stands at 23 wins, one loss and one draw.
Both fighters expressed confidence ahead of the bout. Cacace said he expects a tough contest and predicted a lively atmosphere in Belfast over the Christmas period, while Ball described the fight as a major opportunity to become a two-weight world champion.
