Anthony Cacace v Josh Warrington: World IBF title not on the line at Wembley

Anthony Cacace’s IBF world super-featherweight title will not be on the line against Josh Warrington at Wembley on Saturday.

Cacace defeated Joe Cordina in May to win the world title, but the IBF has said that while the Belfast boxer can face Warrington, his title will not be up for grabs.

The sanctioning body has granted permission for Cacace to fight Warrington, who was not considered a challenger because of his inactivity in the super- featherweight division and was subsequently unranked.

Warrington is a former world champion in the featherweight class and was stepping up a weight against Cacace, whose IBO world title that he has held since 2022 will be on the line in London.

While Warrington cannot take the IBF title off the 35-year-old, the incumbent will vacate his belt if he is beaten at Wembley.

However, should Cacace win, he will face a mandatory defence against Mexico’s Eduardo Nunez before 20 March next year.

Cacace said he wanted both to fight for both titles against Warrington and he “doesn’t know” why the two belts are not on the line on the Anthony Joshua v Daniel Dubois undercard.

“It’s for the IBO world title. The IBF isn’t on the line,” Cacace told BBC Sport.

“You would need to talk to Frank [Warren, Cacace’s promoter] and everybody else behind the scenes about that. I wanted it on the line.

“I’ve known for weeks. It’s not one bit of bother to me, but at the same time I don’t really understand what the hell is going on.”