Cacace to defend WBA super-featherweight title against Nick Ball in Belfast on 19 December

Anthony Cacace will defend his WBA super-featherweight title against Nick Ball at the recently renamed O2 Belfast on Saturday, 19 December, and says reported interest from Vasiliy Lomachenko will not distract him. Cacace insisted his focus remains on Ball despite the reports.

The 37-year-old makes his maiden defence of the WBA super-featherweight crown and will headline in his native Belfast for the first time in a world title defence. The last time Cacace fought at the same arena was in 2023 when he out-pointed Damian Wrzesinski over 12 rounds on the undercard of Luis Alberto Lopez's defeat of Michael Conlan in an IBF featherweight title defence.

Asked about reported interest from Lomachenko, Cacace said: "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." He added: "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."

Cacace also recalled an old social-media moment: "I remember putting a tweet out in 2012 calling out Lomachenko, so if that fight ever materialises, I'll get that tweet sorted." He described headlining at home as a personal milestone, saying: "It's a dream come true. I never believed I'd be in this situation, but here I am."

Ball, a former WBA featherweight champion from Liverpool, moves up to super-featherweight for this opportunity and said the step was taken for this fight alone. The 29-year-old noted he would feel "stronger, more comfortable" at the higher weight and added he was not worried about facing a bigger opponent.

Ball's recent record includes a draw in a first world title attempt against Rey Vargas, a subsequent victory over Raymond Ford and three successful defences before he suffered his first career loss in his 25th professional bout against Brandon Figueroa in February. Reflecting on that defeat, Ball said: "It was a good fight, back and forth for 12 rounds and he caught me with a good shot in the last round. He threw an overhand left counter as I was throwing, so that's what happened. It's boxing, it's part of the game."

Their shared history at the Belfast undercard includes Ball's win over Ludumo Lamati, a contest that ended with Lamati suffering a stroke in the ring and later making a full recovery; Ball said he "didn't even know that" they had shared that undercard but was happy to return to Belfast. Cacace arrives with a 26-fight career that has seen him box in Belfast on five occasions and build momentum since winning his first world title in 2024 when he stopped Joe Cordina for the IBF version in Saudi Arabia.

Cacace's résumé also lists wins over Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood, a subsequent vacancy of that IBF title and a shot earlier this year at then WBA-holder James 'Jazza' Dickens. On the matchup, Cacace said: "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."

The WBA has already indicated the winner of Cacace v Ball must next face Elnur Samedov, while ESPN's Brian Custer has reported that the returning Vasiliy Lomachenko is also said to be keen on the contest.