Anthony Cacace knows a thing or two about stunning the world. He has risen against the odds multiple times and, more famously, did so against Joe Cordina. The reward? The IBF and IBO super featherweight gold strap. But this is a different fight for him. Instead of embracing the underdog persona, he is the overwhelming favorite, a situation both rare and exciting for him. But can the champion pull another splendid outing where he exacts revenge on Josh Warrington for handing out defeats to his Irish compatriots? Or will he join the victims list?

The fans will find it out in an all-British affair, headlined by Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, on September 21 at Wembley Stadium. The fight offers fans a tactical back-and-forth, a technical affair. But for Cacace, the stakes are much higher, as the IBF hasn’t recognized Warrington and despite the title not being on the line, he runs the risk of losing it if he drops the fight. Meanwhile, a win for Warrington would mean a top spot in the rankings. But before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two fighters stack up.

Anthony Cacace vs. Josh Warrington: Tale of Tape

Cacace, at 35, saved the best performance of his career, when he secured a knockout win against Cordina. But what has separated the Irish champion from the rest is his boxing prowess and reputation as a skilled operator, which propelled him to the top. Cacace has racked up an impressive resume because of it. His record of 22-1 with 8 KOs paints a similar picture. What’s more? His KO ratio of 36.36% shows his dependency on his skills rather than the power to churn out favorable results.

The Belfast native also carries a size advantage at 130, as his tall stature of 5’10” (178 cm) allows him to adjust to the vagaries of the super featherweight division and impose his will on his opponents. It might prove to be a tough hurdle for Warrington, who makes his debut at 130. However, Warrington is the younger of the two at 33 but has more fights under his belt. The British fighter has a similar cautious, fighting-on-the-back foot style as Cacace and it has helped him reap benefits and even become an IBF featherweight champion twice. But he hit a snag, as he aged and now has only one win in the last five bouts.

The Leeds native still has a splendid resume with a record of 31-3 with 8 KOs, which suggests his mastery over the art of breaking down his foes for 12 rounds and squeezing out a win. Besides, Warrington’s KO ratio of 25.81% will please the hardcore fans more, who prefer to witness the calculated and scientific approach instead of a flurry of punches thrown at random. But he only stands tall at 5’7″ (170 cm) and has a reach of 67″ (170 cm), which might pose him a considerable challenge to meet the taller competitors in the ring.

Warrington will need to adjust to weight limits of 130 pounds too, as he has to add more to his frame, compared to his last fight’s weight of 125.3 lbs (56.8 kg). Whereas, Cacace is a natural super featherweight with a recorded weight of 129.8 lbs (58.9 kg) in his last fight. What concerns the fans more is his steep fall in performances. Will he be able to go back to the winning ways?

Prediction: where will the fight be won?

There are considerable doubts about Warrington’s ability to rejuvenate his career at 130. But he was draining himself to make the weight at featherweight. ‘The Leeds Warrior’ has admitted his newfound power and how he rediscovered himself at 130. However, his win will depend on how well he navigates through his size disadvantage and how his power will negate the champion. The biggest concern is his ring rust, as he will find it hard to find his mojo at a new weight class against a fighter of Cacace’s caliber, who won’t give him any spaces to open up.

Cacace, on the other hand, has kept himself busy, and this will be the second time that he will go through the ropes this year. ‘The Apache’ works up the body, and land combinations, and despite finding himself on the older side, showed in the last fight that he boasts power too. He is in good condition, too. Picking him as the winner is a no-brainer, but Warrington has every weapon in his arsenal to prove us wrong.

What do you make of this coming fight between Anthony Cacace and Josh Warrington? Who do you believe will leave the arena as a victor? Let us know in the comments below.