Anto Cacace in line for big February title fight

Anto Cacace [15(7)-0] looks set to fight for a big title fight early in the new year.

The Celtic super featherweight champion has recently been chasing the British belt, but has suffered frustration in his hunt, and it looked like he would have to wait until the early Summer for his shot.

An error by the BBBoC saw Maxi Hughes [16(2)-2(1)-2] overlooked as mandatory challenger to Martin J Ward’s crown and, in fixing this error, Cacace was therefore bumped down.

Promoter Pat Magee however is confident that ‘The Apache’ will fight for either the British or the European title in February.

Current EBU champ Guillame Frenois [42(10)-1(0)] is on the lookout for an opponent to make his first defence against in February – and Cacace (EBU-ranked #11), along with Hughes (EBU-ranked #9), features on his shortlist.

Magee is open to the fight with the Frenchman, which would take place in Paris, and notes that, if Frenois chooses Hughes over Cacace, then the Andersonstown man can easily take Hughes’s place for his British title fight with Ward which is mooted for February 4th.

Surveying the situation, Magee told the Belfast Telegraph that “it would be a huge opportunity [to fight for the European title] for Anthony, and if the deal is right we wouldn’t be afraid of letting Anthony challenge for the title in Paris.”

“If Hughes gets the European title shot then Anthony can step up because he is the mandatory challenger.”

“Whatever happens, Anthony will be fighting in February and I believe that 2017 is going o be a very big year for him.