West Belfast’s Anthony Cacace was welcomed back as a hero on Monday after his surprise victory over Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds gathered to greet the “Andytown Apache” after he won the IBF super featherweight title by stopping Cordina in the eighth round, shaking up the boxing world.
The 35-year-old fighter, who was part of the undercard for Tyson Fury’s heavyweight title clash against Oleksandr Usyk, expressed his shock and disbelief at his victory to BBC News NI. He credited his children and prayers for giving him the drive to succeed, and said he hoped to win all the belts and become a unified champion.
Young boxers Harry Hassin and Jerry McCann were inspired by Cacace’s performance and determination as they waited to welcome him home. Paul and Liz Drain, who were also in the crowd, described Cacace as an inspiration to the community, with Mrs. Drain expressing how nervous she was watching his fight but how relieved and pleased she was with his victory. Mr. Drain emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-belief in achieving success.
