Anthony Cacace to Defend WBA World Title in Belfast Homecoming Against Nick Ball in December
WBA super-featherweight world champion Anthony "The Apache" Cacace will make his first world title defence in Belfast on 19 December, facing Liverpool's Nick Ball in a fight that promises to be one of the most significant nights in Belfast boxing in years — a homecoming for a champion who has waited a long time to headline an arena show in his own city.
Background
Anthony Cacace's journey to the WBA super-featherweight world title has been one of the most compelling stories in Irish boxing in recent years. The 37-year-old from north Belfast turned professional in 2010 and spent the better part of a decade building his record and his reputation on the domestic and European circuits, without ever quite breaking through to the world level that his talent deserved.
The breakthrough came in March 2026, when Cacace travelled to Dublin to face Jazza Dickens for the WBA super-featherweight title and produced a masterclass of technical boxing to win by unanimous decision. The victory was celebrated across Belfast and the wider Irish boxing community as a long-overdue recognition of a fighter who had remained dedicated to his craft through years of near-misses and setbacks. Cacace became only the second Belfast man to hold a WBA world title, following in the footsteps of Wayne McCullough.
Since winning the title, Cacace has been navigating the complex politics of world boxing — including a WBA mandatory defence order involving interim champion Elnur Samedov — while working with his promotional team to secure the homecoming fight that he and his supporters have been dreaming of. The announcement of the 19 December date at a Belfast arena represents the culmination of that process.
Key Developments
Nick Ball, Cacace's opponent, is a 27-year-old Liverpool-based fighter and former WBA featherweight champion who is moving up in weight to challenge for the super-featherweight title. Ball is a capable and dangerous opponent — a former world champion who knows how to perform on the big stage — and the fight is expected to be genuinely competitive. However, the home advantage, the occasion, and Cacace's superior experience at super-featherweight make the Belfast man the clear favourite.
The fight will be Cacace's first appearance in Belfast since May 2023 and his first arena headliner in his home city — a fact that has added to the sense of occasion surrounding the announcement. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, with demand from the Belfast boxing community and the wider Irish sporting public likely to be enormous.
Why It Matters
World title fights in Belfast have a special significance in the city's sporting culture. Belfast has produced a remarkable number of world-class boxers over the decades — from Wayne McCullough and Damaen Kelly to Carl Frampton and Ryan Burnett — and the tradition of world championship boxing in the city is one that resonates deeply with fans across the community divide. Cacace's homecoming fight represents a continuation of that tradition and an opportunity for the city to celebrate one of its own on the biggest stage.
The fight also has broader significance for the development of boxing in Northern Ireland. A successful world title defence in Belfast would generate significant media coverage and commercial interest, potentially attracting further major events to the city and providing a platform for the next generation of Northern Irish boxing talent. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has already indicated that it sees Cacace's success as an opportunity to promote the sport at grassroots level across Northern Ireland.
Local Impact
In north Belfast, where Cacace grew up and where he remains a deeply popular figure, the announcement of the homecoming fight has been met with enormous excitement. The Midland Boxing Club, where Cacace first learned to box, has been inundated with enquiries from young people wanting to take up the sport, and local businesses in the area are already planning to mark the occasion. The fight is expected to generate significant economic activity for Belfast, with fans travelling from across Ireland and further afield for what promises to be a memorable night.
What's Next
Cacace will begin his preparation for the December fight in the coming weeks, working with his training team to develop a specific game plan for Ball. The Belfast man's technical boxing ability and ring intelligence are his primary weapons, and the expectation is that he will look to use his experience and his home advantage to control the fight from the outset. For Belfast boxing fans, 19 December cannot come quickly enough.
