September 18th 2024.
This weekend, all eyes will be on Josh Warrington as he looks to get back on track after a string of tough losses. The former two-time IBF featherweight champion is now moving up to the super-featherweight division, and he's not wasting any time in his pursuit of a world title. On Saturday, he will face off against current IBF and IBO champion Anthony Cacace, who gained attention after brutally dethroning Joe Cordina in May.
Warrington's journey to this title fight has been a rocky one. After losing his featherweight title in a grueling match against Luis Alberto Lopez in December 2022, he fought his way back to a world title shot against WBA champion Leigh Wood last October. However, he was once again defeated, this time in the seventh round when the fight was controversially stopped.
Before the Wood fight, Warrington knew that his time in the featherweight division was coming to an end. He was feeling the effects of a draining fight camp more than ever and was unsure if he had enough power to do the necessary damage. But now, with a new division and new opportunities ahead of him, Warrington is feeling revitalized and ready to make a statement against Cacace on the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois card at Wembley.
"I feel good at this weight," Warrington shared in an interview with The Agency. "We've been talking about moving up for a while now. But before the camp for the Wood fight, I said to myself, 'This is the last time'. I knew that nothing could keep me in the featherweight division. I'm 33 now and I reached a point where I couldn't comfortably make the weight anymore. But now, I feel stronger than ever before. There's a new lease of life in me."
Warrington's confidence comes from the extra power he has gained since moving up in weight. He admits that in the past, he would sometimes hit the pads and not feel convinced that he had enough power. But now, his sparring partners, who are even in higher weight classes, have been shocked by his strength and speed.
Despite the stacked competition in the super-featherweight division, Warrington is excited about the new opportunities that await him. He believes that staying in the featherweight division would have limited his options, and he's ready to take on new challenges.
Cacace, on the other hand, is living a dream come true after winning his first major world title at the age of 35 in stunning fashion against Cordina on the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard in May. With just one win in his last five fights, Warrington knows he's facing a tough opponent. But he also believes that his experience in big domestic fights, including his famous wins over Lee Selby and Carl Frampton, will give him the edge.
"I've always been impressed with Anthony's boxing abilities, and he's answered all the questions asked of him," Warrington said. "He boxed out of his skin against Cordina. It was well deserved, and I'm sure he will be using that as motivation to keep the belts. But I've been in these situations many times before. That's one thing I have over him - the experience of these big nights."
Warrington is no stranger to fighting on the big stage, and he's excited to once again be part of a stacked card. He recalls the electric atmosphere of his fight against Frampton, where half the crowd was singing his team's anthem while the other half booed him. He believes that such an atmosphere only adds to his performance and that he's still living his dream as a professional boxer.
After his controversial loss to Wood last year, there was talk of an immediate rematch. But with Wood vacating his WBA belt and also moving up to super-featherweight, negotiations for a rematch repeatedly fell through. However, Warrington hasn't given up on the possibility of facing Wood again in the future, especially if it means he can give his loyal fans the away day they deserve.
"I did everything to make that fight happen," Warrington said. "I accepted two low offers, and I even went lower to make it happen. It's a shame that it didn't work out, especially because it would have been one of the biggest domestic fights. But I still have big dreams of fighting in America, in places like Vegas or New York, to give my fans the away day they deserve. And if there's a chance to win more belts and make more history, I'll be there."
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