Anthony Cacas is expected to vacate his IBF super featherweight title to fight Leigh Wood. The IBF belt will be vacated for #1 Eduardo 'Sugar' Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) and #3 Masanori Rikiish (16-1, 11 KOs) to fight.

It makes sense for the 35-year-old Cacas (23-1, 8 KOs) to give up the IBF title to fight former two-time WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) because it's a fight worth giving. Good for Anthony.

Nunez's time to shine?

Eduardo 'Sugar' Nunez has looked impressive, knocking out his last 17 opponents since his only career loss by a six-round unanimous decision to Hiram Gallardo in June 2018. In Nunez's last four fights, he has knocked out Miguel Mariaga, Oscar Escandon. Jesus Martin Sica and Willmank Canonico Brito.

It's hard to know how good the eight-year pro Rickish, 30, is because he's fought mostly unknown opposition throughout his career in his native Japan. He's lost once as a pro, but he's been fighting under the radar against opposition most fans have never heard of. This is not a good sign.

The chances of success are slim

The 13-year professional Cacas' chances of success against 'Sugar' Nunez were minimal due to the Mexican fighter's strength, youth and aggressiveness. It wasn't a big payday for Cacus against Nunez, and the result could have been worse for him.

Last year, Cacace defeated IBF 130-lb champion Joe Cordina, destroying him in eight rounds on May 18th in Riyadh. The fight wasn't even remotely close, as Cacus was too fast and too busy for the weight-drained Cordina in that contest. Cacace dropped Cordina in the third round, and it looked like he might never recover.

In Cacace's last fight, he defeated former featherweight champion Josh Warrington via a 12-round unanimous decision on the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois undercard at London's Wembley Stadium on September 21.

I watched the fight, and it looked like Cacace took it easy on Warrington, staying in second gear the entire contest and not having the same rough treatment as Cordina in his previous fight. If the game was to be like that, it was a kind gesture from Cacques as Warrington looked the full shot. He would have folded like a cheap suit if Caques had hustled him like Cordina all night.

“With Anthony Cacas expected to vacate his IBF belt to fight former champion Leigh Wood, the super-featherweight belt is up for grabs between Eduardo Nunez and Japan's no. 3 will be determined by a fight between the Masanori rikishi, I'm told,” said Lance Pugmire on X.