Belfast hero Anthony Cacace paid tribute to the fans and his team members after the victory over Jazza Dickens that made him a two-time world champion.
Cacace defeated Dickens via decision at the 3Arena in Dublin, adding the WBA crown to the IBF title he won from Joe Cordina in May 2024.
Cacace has now defeated Dickens, Cordina, Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington in his last four fights and is 25-1 (9 KOs).
“I’d like to thank everyone who came from Belfast, all over Ireland, the UK, it’s been a mental journey,” the 37-year-old said via social media. “Two-time world champion, I could never have imagined that. I could never have imagined being where I am today.”
He thanked his coaches, Mickey Hawkins Snr and Jnr, and his training team.
“Two-time world champion from Andytown, Belfast. Who would have thought it? It blows my mind,” he added.
“I’m on cloud nine. A bit sore. It wasn’t a great performance, I had a couple of issues in training camp, couldn’t spar, my sharpness wasn’t there, Jazza’s a southpaw, but full respect to Jazza. He’s a great champion and a great fighter and part of a great family.”
Post-fight, the Irishman had to the Queensberry YouTube channel, “I’m well aware it was a below par performance, that style didn’t gel well with me.
“I was aware there were some close rounds but I was in control. He was missing with his shots and I was saying ‘Come on, let me see what you’ve got. Do something.’ And he didn’t do anything.
“I felt a lot bigger. His head was flying everywhere and I nearly had him out of there in round five. I should have had him out of there in round five. That’s where the sparring and stuff and the sharpness just wasn’t there. I just couldn’t do it.”
“[Against the other champions] I will perform better. He’s a southpaw, he’s small, every time I threw a punch he’d just drop down and he was hitting me with his head continuously and then the back of my head. None of them were punches.”
