Cacace v Wood: Belfast fighter wins bout with ninth-round TKO

Wood began confidently off the jab as he sought to assert himself, but was snapped back on a couple of occasions from Cacace’s right hands and again towards the end of the opener as there was a sense both men could land something decisive.

Neither could afford to get reckless as there was clear respect between the pair, but Wood walked into a right hand in the second round which made him think twice.

But he did get his best shot off in the dying seconds as he found a home for his own right hand which brought a respectful nod from Cacace.

They landed simultaneously in the third before Cacace appeared to make the first bit of a dent as he got through with one of his trademark uppercuts. After briefly switching to southpaw, he thumped home a left hand which seemed to drive Wood back, but was caught late in the round when missing the target and punished by a counter.

There was an air of tension as the fight proceeded, although Wood enjoyed a good fourth round as he found his range.

It remained on a knife-edge in the fifth with Cacace’s stiff jab rocking Wood’s head back, but the Nottingham man responded well to have his own success.

Cacace grabbed some momentum with a good sixth round as he got through with another uppercut and seemed to be opening up by putting punches together, but was caught in the seventh when switching stances.