NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – Anthony Cacace put on a dominant display, stopping Leigh Wood in the ninth round.

The contest, which took place in the Motorpoint Arena in Wood’s home city of Nottingham, England, only had Cacace’s fringe IBO junior lightweight title on the line as he had vacated his IBF strap in January. Cacace, whose record now stands at 24-1 (9 KOs), put in perhaps the performance of his career, forcing Wood’s trainer, Ben Davison, to throw in the towel after two minutes and 15 seconds of Round 9.

Wood, who fell to 28-4 (17 KOs), was moving up from featherweight, though he did not look outsized by Cacace. Wood looked strong at 130lbs, pressing forward behind a high guard and seeking to land hard shots. Wood’s timing was off after 19 months out of the ring, however, and he fell short with a lot of his punches. Cacace, 36, punished him and slapped in a left jab that seemed to hurt Wood.

Wood, 36 years old as well, was again falling short in the second, and Cacace continued to punish him, but as the round came to a close Wood finally landed his right hand, and it seemed to stun Cacace. The Northern Irishman was thankful to hear the bell seconds later and acknowledged the shot as the pair returned to their respective corners. 

Cacace turned up the heat in the third and sent two hard shots into the arms of Wood as he backed away on to the ropes. Wood retaliated well and landed a hard right hand that thudded against the head of Cacace. Cacace also responded well and flicked a jab into Wood’s face that made the home fighter stumble back. Wood started to find his range as the bout went on and in the fifth landed his best shot yet as Cacace came in – a short left hook. Cacace took it well and returned fire, finishing the round on top. 

Cacace started to put his shots together in the sixth and landed a flurry that seemed to hurt Wood, although in typical Leigh Wood fashion he came firing back. Wood started the seventh with more intent, but Cacace was able to land his shots from the back foot. Wood continued to press forward and landed a hard right hand that crashed on the skull of Cacace. Cacace shook his head in response and fired back with a left hand.

Wood had his best round of the contest in the eighth, pushing forward and landing two hard shots on the inside that forced Cacace to hold on. As the round came to a close, the pair swung away hammer and tong, and both men ignored the bell in hopes of landing one more shot. 

As the ninth began, it was clear that Wood was starting to feel the effects of Cacace’s work. Both eyes were now starting to swell and blood was trickling down his nose, but that did not deter Wood from pressing forward. However, as Wood came in to land his right hand, he walked straight into a left hand that rocked him.

Wood was stumbling around the ring and helplessly trying to hold onto Cacace to stay on his feet. Cacace then landed another left hand that sent Wood flying to the other side of the ring and into the ropes. Cacace went in to finish Wood off but was stopped by the referee, who ruled the incident a knockdown and began to count Wood.

Wood was hurt, and Cacace knew it. As soon as the referee had finished his count, Cacace threw the kitchen sink in hopes of ending the proceedings. Cacace battered Wood from pillar to post, and with Wood again seemingly seconds away from being stopped, Davision threw in the towel. 

Wood, who could choose to walk away from the sport after the heavy beatdown, made sure to thank his home crowd for their support over his career.