Title win adds 'a little more pressure' - Cacace

Anthony Cacace admits that being world champion "adds a small much pressure" but he is assured of defeating Josh Warrington.

Cacace's first defence of nan IBF super-featherweight title will return spot astatine Wembley Stadium connected 21 September connected nan undercard of Anthony Joshua's bout pinch Daniel Dubois.

The Belfast boxer, 35, stunned nan antecedently undefeated Joe Cordina successful Saudi Arabia to declare nan world title successful May.

Leeds combatant Warrington, 33, is simply a two-time world champion but has mislaid his past 2 bouts.

"They will now expect for maine to conflict for illustration that each time," Cacace told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm not being cocky aliases anything, but I genuinely judge I tin hit Warrington too."

While Warrington is simply a two-time world champion, he has only won conscionable 1 of his past 5 bouts.

His conclusion by Luis Alberto Lopez saw him suffer his IBF world featherweight loop and Leigh Wood successfully defended his WBA title against Warrington successful October.

In contrast, Cacace is coming disconnected nan biggest triumph of his career, which came connected nan undercard of Oleksandr Usyk's triumph complete Tyson Fury successful Saudi Arabia, and is undefeated successful his past 7 bouts.

Despite a quality successful form, Cacace admits it will beryllium "a very difficult fight" against "great fighter" Warrington.

"I'm not going to return thing distant from him. That's what he is," added Cacace.

"I consciousness for illustration I person been watching Josh since I was 16. He has been astir this crippled a agelong time.

"He's done things successful nan crippled that galore could only dream of. We'll person to time off it down to nan nighttime and spot what happens."

Cacace added that having nan first defence of his title astatine Wembley is simply a "dream travel true" and "unbelievable".

He was group to conflict astatine nan London stadium backmost successful 2022 connected nan undercard of Tyson Fury's bout pinch Dillian Whyte, but force Jonathan Romero withdrew days earlier nan fight.

"I've had my bad luck astatine Wembley earlier and I've had clip to group things straight. To person these large fights, I'm still successful daze astatine nan full thing. It's insane.

"I've had my adjacent stock of bad luck, truthful now I'm conscionable really enjoying nan spot of bully luck that I've had."

Cacace said that becoming a world champion "has turned my full life upside down", adding that his newfound attraction and fame is "amazing".

"Before, everything was dormant relaxed and I was alright flying nether nan radar," he said.

"I was still doing what I was doing but not excessively galore group knew me.

"Now everyplace I spell I get group asking for autographs and pictures aliases moreover a chat. I haven't had that my full career.

"It's each caller to maine but I emotion it."

Despite caller defeats, Warrington said location is nary other unit connected him erstwhile he steps into nan ringing against Cacace.

"It seems to beryllium erstwhile my backmost is against nan wall that I propulsion my champion performances out," said Warrington.

"His capacity against Cordina was perfectly phenomenal. He has my afloat respect and we will propulsion nan room descend astatine each other."

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren said he believes Cacace is simply a "world-class" fighter" and nan bout will beryllium "one of nan awesome fights connected nan card".

"Josh is simply a bully combatant but I deliberation he will beryllium successful pinch personification who is coming into his own," said Warren.

"He has had a fewer disappointments complete nan years but if you are diligent and support astatine it for illustration he has done, you tin show what you are tin of.

"It is simply a awesome fight. The victor will person nan mandatory situation against Eduardo Nunez, truthful that will beryllium a large fight, but this is 1 of nan awesome fights connected nan card. This will beryllium an unbelievable fight."

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn added said he was delighted that Warrington had a changeable astatine becoming a three-time, two-weight world champion astatine Wembley.

"Josh really deserves this. People talk astir coming disconnected nan backmost of defeats, but conscionable look astatine what he has done," he said.

"He is simply a awesome combatant and super-featherweight will really suit him. I deliberation this could beryllium 1 of nan fights of nan nighttime connected a tremendous card."