Chief support and undercard for Herring-Frampton WBO world title clash announced
The highly-anticipated British super featherweight title showdown between Anthony Cacace (18-1, 7KOs) and Lyon Woodstock (12-2, 5KOs) will go ahead on Saturday February 27, acting as chief support for the WBO world title clash between Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton.
The two top fights on the bill between Cacace-Woodstock and main event Herring-Frampton are both 50-50 fights that are so hard to call. Bookies and online casinos currently have Frampton at 4/6 to win his third world title.
Tommy Fury (4-0, 3KOs) also returns on a packed bill that includes super-flyweight Kaisy Khademi (8-0) bidding to double his belt tally by adding the vacant IBF European to his WBO European title against Birmingham's Ijaz Ahmed (7-2).
Stoke's hugely popular middleweight star Nathan Heaney (10-0) takes on a tough domestic test in the shape of Ryan Oliver (7-2), with thrilling lightweight prospect Sam Noakes (4-0) going in against the unbeaten Delmar Thomas (5-0).
Three professional debuts complete the card, with ABA champion Masood Abdulah set to introduce himself over four rounds at super featherweight, Amaar Akbar at super lightweight and Adan Mohamed at super bantamweight.
Exclusively live on BT Sport, 'The Jackal' Carl Frampton bids to make history by becoming Ireland's first ever three-weight world champion by parting the champion, former Marine Herring from his belt.
The night will now have a further Belfast twist with the addition of the 18-1 Cacace taking on the 12-2 Leicester man Woodstock in a collision that has won widespread approval from boxing fans.
What should be a particularly fan-friendly encounter was first due to take place during last summer's post-lockdown series but was ultimately delayed due to Cacace being hospitalised after suffering an infection following dental surgery.
This will represent a first defence for the 32-year-old of the title he won by defeating former champion Sam Bowen in Birmingham back in November 2019.
“Thank God it has all cleared up and now I’m ready to rock against Lyon," reported 'The Apache' on his dental complications.
“The break has done me well and I’m just as hungry as ever. I know what I have to do against Lyon and I am coming over to do it.
“I know exactly what he brings, but I am well capable of knocking Lyon out. That’s because I won’t have to go looking for him.
“He is just there, loves a tear up. His style is to break opponents down. That plays into my hands.
“I think people will enjoy this one."
Woodstock, 27, revealed that he refused to let the frustrations over a seven-month delay get the better of him and his mind remains trained firmly on the job in hand.
"When things kept being put on and falling through, put on again and falling through – this is the third time I have been in camp for this fight – at the beginning it was a little bit demoralising, but you've just got to find that time and energy in yourself to keep moving forward.
"Like I was the first time, I am still really excited about this fight and it is the biggest opportunity of my life. With the two losses I have got on my record [Archie Sharp and Zelfa Barrett] people could say 'he doesn't deserve this', but if you look at my resume I've not ducked anyone and I am always in good fights. I fight good people, good opposition.
"I know Cacace is a fighting man and I have a lot of respect for him and what he did in coming to Birmingham and taking the title from Bowen.
"I am not in boring fights and everyone knows what you get with me. I've seen Cacace say he won't have to come looking for me – and he is not wrong!"
HÖRFA are proud sponsors of British Boxing News