Anthony Cacace’s IBF world super-featherweight title will not be on the line against Josh Warrington at Wembley on Saturday.
Cacace defeated Joe Cordina in May to win the world title, but the IBF has said that while the Belfast boxer can face Warrington, his title will not be up for grabs.
The sanctioning body has granted permission for Cacace to fight Warrington, who was not considered a challenger because of his inactivity in the super- featherweight division and was subsequently unranked.
Warrington is a former world champion in the featherweight class and was stepping up a weight against Cacace, whose IBO world title that he has held since 2022 will be on the line in London.
While Warrington cannot take the IBF title off the 35-year-old, the incumbent will vacate his belt if he is beaten at Wembley.
However, should Cacace win, he will face a mandatory defence against Mexico’s Eduardo Nunez before 20 March next year.
Cacace said he wanted both to fight for both titles against Warrington and he “doesn’t know” why the two belts are not on the line on the Anthony Joshua v Daniel Dubois undercard.
“It’s for the IBO world title. The IBF isn’t on the line,” Cacace told BBC Sport.
“You would need to talk to Frank [Warren, Cacace’s promoter] and everybody else behind the scenes about that. I wanted it on the line.
“I’ve known for weeks. It’s not one bit of bother to me, but at the same time I don’t really understand what the hell is going on.”
Since defeating Cordina, Cacace said it has been nice to be called a world champion but he wants to keep on winning.
“I’m not satisfied with just being champion. I want to beat these top guys and continue doing what I’m doing.”
Cacace admits that Warrington is a “hard man” but he is a “better boxer” than the Leeds fighter.
The 33-year-old hasn’t fought since losing to Leigh Wood in October and also lost his previous bout with Luis Alberto Lopez.
“He’s going to bring the fight. I believe he is a warrior. In terms of boxing, I think I’m an all-round better fighter than Josh.
“He is a good guy and he always gives his best. He’s been unlucky in his last couple of fights, he’s been fighting at a really high level and fallen a wee bit short.”
Speaking to BBC Sport in London, Cacace touched on his friendship with former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, who has supported him throughout his career.
“Carl told me at the start of my career, ‘you’re going to be a world champion’,” he recalled.
“I clung to that and it’s nice that he turned out to be right.
“When I was with him in London he kind of looked after me to a certain degree and helped me out with small bits and pieces.
“I appreciate Carl, he’s a good lad and I’m sure he would do that for anybody else too.”
