The clash between Leigh Wood and Anthony Cacace has shootout written all over it — a high-stakes war where one clean punch could change everything. This might start tentative, but with both men known for grit, heart, and a willingness to meet fire with fire, this is the kind of matchup that has Fight of the Year potential.

But when the dust settles, one man might just carry the heavier artillery.

Leigh Wood has become one of the UK’s most beloved fighters — and for good reason. He’s never in a dull fight. Win or lose, he gives everything in the ring, and fans know that when Wood is on the bill, they’re in for drama.

His 2022 knockout win over Michael Conlan was one of the most stunning finishes in recent memory. After being knocked down early and trailing on the cards, Wood roared back in the final round with a thunderous right hand that sent Conlan crashing out of the ring — and into the arms of his family — earning Ring Magazine’s Knockout of the Year. It was a moment that captured everything fans love about Wood: heart, power, and pure theatre.

Wood’s flaws — his openness to being hit, his sometimes slow starts and explosive finishes — are also what make him so good to watch. Against Conlan, he was dropped heavily and buzzed multiple times. A similar story played out against Josh Warrington, where he was outworked early but once again dug deep to find a fight-ending combination.

In his first fight with Mauricio Lara, Wood started well. Though stunned in the early stages, he recovered and began dictating the pace, slowing the Mexican down and building a lead on the cards. But with seconds remaining in the seventh round, a lapse in focus saw him walk into a huge left hook. Though he beat the count, trainer Ben Davison made the difficult but sensible decision to throw in the towel.

There’s a lot of unknowns going into this one — but also some quiet optimism around Wood’s preparation. After 19 months out of the ring, he’s had time to heal and sharpen, and by all accounts, he’s stayed busy in the gym. He’s also moving up in weight, something he says has given him a more comfortable and energized camp without the strain of a brutal weight cut.

Fighting in front of a home crowd, and knowing that retirement may only be a year away, Wood could be more motivated than ever. He’s hinted that this might be one of his final big nights — and he won’t want to lose in front of his people in Nottingham.

That emotional drive, paired with fresher legs and a more natural weight, could bring out one last classic performance.

But emotion alone doesn’t win fights — especially not against a big, seasoned southpaw like Anthony Cacace.

It’s worth noting: Wood hasn’t faced a southpaw since being outboxed by Jazza Dickens back in February 2020. That’s a long layoff without seeing that style, and against someone as composed and powerful as Cacace, ring rust could prove costly.

Cacace is a huge super featherweight with real knockout power. Carl Frampton has gone on record saying just how hard Cacace hits, and if he’s able to walk Wood down and land clean, it could be a short night.

Momentum is also firmly on the Belfast man’s side. He’s riding high off two statement wins — a dominant shutout over Josh Warrington and an IBF title-winning performance against Joe Cordina. He’s boxing with confidence, and the timing of this fight may suit him more than it does Wood.

Plenty of pundits,  and fighters , are backing Cacace, citing his size, sharpness, and recent activity as decisive advantages.

This fight promises fireworks. Wood will have his moments — he always does — and the home crowd could help him ride through some early storms. But the reality is, Wood has been through a string of punishing battles in recent years, taking a lot of clean shots in the process. From the Lara knockout to the Conlan and Warrington fights, there’s only so many times a fighter can go to the well before the wear and tear begins to show.

In contrast, Cacace comes into this matchup with less physical damage and arguably fresher legs. His more low-key, less punishing career path could give him the edge if the fight becomes a test of durability and timing. Combine that with his size, power, and southpaw stance, and this could be the night where Wood’s warrior instincts run into a wall.

While it would be foolish to ever completely count Wood out, we’re going with a Anthony Cacace KO/TKO here.

Pick: Anthony Cacace to win by KO/TKO

Odds: 11/4 @ Paddy Power

BetBoost: 7/1 @ bet365 for Anthony Cacace to win by KO/TKO, in under 7.5 rounds, score 1 or more knockdowns