Cacace celebrates with his team following Saturday's win over Jazza Dickens
What is your why? Whether in business or pleasure, it is a question many consider regarding their motivation, and Anthony Cacace is no exception.
Providing for his family remains a priority for the newly crowned WBA super-featherweight champion, but now it also involves establishing the family name within the history of world boxing.
Although some still find the pronunciation of his surname challenging—a name inherited from his father, who comes from just outside Sorrento in Italy—there seems to be ample opportunity for repetition as the Belfast boxer aims to become the undisputed champion of the 9st 4lb (59kg) division and make his name known among his competitors.
His victory over Joe Cordina in May 2024 fulfilled a dream when he claimed the IBF title, which he has since relinquished. Adding to his achievements, he secured another title by winning a unanimous decision against Liverpool's 'Jazza' Dickens on Saturday. The champion expressed particular satisfaction in "putting my daddy's name down in the history books."
"No-one really heard of Cacace but now the name's known,"
said the 37-year-old from Andersonstown in west Belfast after his victory.
Reflecting on what he described as a "below-par performance" against Dickens, his ambitions remain clear.
Mexico's Emanuel Navarrete currently holds Cacace's former IBF belt as well as the WBO version, while the USA's O'Shaquie Foster is the reigning WBC champion.
At 37 years old, time is not on Cacace's side. He confirmed he will continue fighting, but these final stages of his career must count.
"Give me Navarrete - it's not that hard to make, so let's make it,"
he said following Saturday's victory, which improved his record to 25 wins and one loss.
"The styles [against Dickens] never really gelled but I believe I can do better and unify.
I can beat Navarrete and these guys, so that's what I'm aiming for now."
His promoter, Frank Warren, expressed support for this goal.
"Of course I'd like to see it and that's what we want to do,"
he said.
"He [Cacace] is a two-time world champion and wants to unify the belts, so we'll work on doing that."
Cacace defeats Dickens to land second world title
Hand injury in the build-up affected my sharpness
Although Cacace's performance was not his best in a fight many anticipated might be challenging due to the orthodox versus southpaw styles, he edged out Dickens on the judges' scorecards.
His strongest round was the fifth, when he aggressively pressed the Liverpool fighter and threw a series of punches with determination.
Dickens fought back and had his moments in the following rounds, but the new champion revealed that a "chinned" left hand sustained in the build-up may have limited his ability to finish the fight decisively during his period of dominance.
"I tagged him and I could have had him out of there, but that's where the sharpness and the sparring comes in,"
he explained.
"I genuinely believed that I punched way too hard for him, but I just had to keep it nice and safe. I knew what to do in the fight and what way to control the fight.
Take nothing away from Jazza - he's a great champion."
'Everything is possible with hard work'
Cacace is congratulated by his father, Tony
The hand injury also made the experience "mentally challenging in the changing room," he admitted, but he overcame the negativity just as he had overcome numerous setbacks earlier in his career to reach the top.
He refused to participate in an open-top bus parade after returning with the IBF belt in 2024, and he maintains the same stance following his acquisition of the WBA title.
Fame and celebrity are not his motivation; rather, striving to be the best version of himself has yielded rewards. If his journey inspires the next generation, it would be a fitting return for the support he received leading up to Saturday's victory.
"When I hear the kids at St Agnes' [GAA club he played for when younger] all coming together and singing 'oh Anto Cacace' and kids from my old primary school, Holy Child, screaming my name, it fills me with pride and makes me emotional.
I was watching [those good luck videos] before I left the hotel just to kind of give me that gee up. I'm all about the up and coming - I want to inspire them.
I'm just a normal boy from Andytown and I want to show anyone can do this. With hard work, dedication and sacrifice, anyone can get here."
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