Anthony Cacace Sets Sights on Emanuel Navarrete After Capturing WBA Super-Featherweight Crown

Anthony Cacace has his eyes firmly set on unification glory after capturing the WBA super-featherweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Liverpool Jazza Dickens, immediately calling out Mexican star Emanuel Navarrete for a blockbuster showdown.

The 37-year-old Belfast fighter improved his record to 25 wins and one loss with Saturday victory, but the two-time world champion made it clear this latest triumph represents just another step toward his ultimate goal of undisputed supremacy in the division.

Give me Navarrete - its not that hard to make, so lets make it, Cacace declared after defeating Dickens. The styles against Dickens never really gelled but I believe I can do better and unify. I can beat Navarrete and these guys, so thats what Im aiming for now.

For Cacace, whose Italian heritage traces back to his father birthplace near Sorrento, this victory carries deeper significance than simply adding another belt to his collection. The triumph allows him to cement his family name in boxing history.

No-one really heard of Cacace but now the names known, the Andersonstown native reflected emotionally. His victory enables him to put my daddys name down in the history books, adding personal pride to professional achievement.

Navarrete currently holds both the IBF title that Cacace previously relinquished and the WBO version, while Americas O Shaquie Foster possesses the WBC crown. At 37 years old, Cacace understands time is working against him in his pursuit of undisputed glory.

His promoter Frank Warren immediately endorsed the unification ambitions, stating: Of course I would like to see it and thats what we want to do. He is a two-time world champion and wants to unify the belts, so well work on doing that.

Saturdays performance against Dickens, while successful, fell short of Cacaces own standards. The champion admitted delivering a below-par performance, with the orthodox versus southpaw styles never quite meshing to create sustained excitement.

Cacace found his best moments in the fifth round, when he jumped on the Liverpool fighter and let his hands go with spite, nearly ending the contest. However, a chinned left hand sustained during training camp may have prevented him from capitalizing on his dominant spell.

I tagged him and I could have had him out of there, but thats where the sharpness and the sparring comes in, Cacace 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.

The hand injury created mental challenges before the bout, with Cacace admitting it was mentally challenging in the changing room before he managed to shake off the negativity and focus on victory.

Dickens credit, the Liverpool fighter refused to fold after absorbing punishment in the fifth round, riding the storm and having his own moments in subsequent rounds. However, Cacace maintained control throughout most of the contest to secure a deserved unanimous decision.

True to his humble roots, Cacace continues rejecting celebrity trappings, maintaining his refusal to participate in open-top bus celebrations as he did after winning the IBF title in 2024. Fame and celebrity remain secondary to his core motivations.

Instead, his inspiration comes from community support, particularly children from St Agnes GAA club and Holy Child primary school who rally behind his championship pursuits.

When I hear the kids at St Agnes all coming together and singing oh Anto Cacace and kids from my old primary school screaming my name, it fills me with pride and makes me emotional, he shared. Im 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.