Cacace to defend world title against Warrington

Anthony Cacace will defend his title against Josh Warrington, who memorably beat Cacace's friend and fellow Belfast fighter Carl Frampton in December 2018

Anthony Cacace will defend his IBF super-featherweight title against two-time world champion Josh Warrington on the undercard of Anthony Joshua v Daniel Dubois on 21 September at Wembley Stadium.

Belfast boxer Cacace stunned Joe Cordina in May in Saudi Arabia to claim his first world title.

The 35-year-old stopped the previously undefeated Welshman in the eighth round on the undercard of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed heavyweight showdown in Riyadh.

While Cacace is coming off the biggest win of his life, 33-year-old Warrington is looking to get his career back on track.

The Leeds fighter lost his IBF featherweight title to Luis Alberto Lopez in December 2022 before failing to take the WBA featherweight crown from Leigh Wood last October.

"I'm buzzing, it's so exciting. I'm looking forward to everything now," Cacace, who has won 22 of 23 professional bouts, told BBC Sport NI.

"I feel like winning that world title has put a new lease of life into me.

"There were a couple of opponents given to me but I thought Josh was the best fight. He's very well known in Ireland and the UK. He's very experienced, he's been around the block. He's a great fighter."

'Every fight is a Fight of the Year contender'

Cacace will be the third boxer from Northern Ireland that Warrington has faced in a professional ring.

He beat Martin Lindsay in May 2014 to win the British featherweight title before successfully defending his IBF featherweight world title against Carl Frampton in December 2022.

"I want to thank Anthony and his team," Warrington said at Wednesday's press conference to announce the fight card.

"This has been flirted with for a week or so, and I've nothing respect for them. Every fight that I have is a Fight of the Year contender.

"Boxing fans want to be entertained and see two fighters giving it their all so that's what I'll be bringing."

Buatsi leads rest of support

Joining Cacace's clash with Warrington on the undercard at Wembley, Olympic bronze medallist Joshua Buatsi meets Scotland's Willy Hutchinson for the WBO interim light-heavyweight title.

The unbeaten 31-year-old won the British and Commonwealth titles in February with a unanimous decision over Dan Azeez.

Former world champion Liam Smith will return to the ring for the first time since his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr as he faces another Olympian - Josh Kelly - at light-middleweight.

"It's another great fight on a huge card. It's a fight I'm looking forward to and massively confident of winning," Smith said.

"My time out of the ring has been through choice because of my injury. I feel fresh and this has lit a fire in my belly again."

Making up the card, unbeaten middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz meets Tyler Denny while Mark Chamberlain will face Josh Padley at lightweight.