Belfast boxing fans are in for an early Christmas cracker as Anthony Cacace prepares to defend his WBA super-featherweight world title on home soil.

Belfast’s Anthony Cacace will put his world title on the line against former featherweight world champion Nick Ball at The O2 Belfast on Saturday 19 December, setting up what promises to be one of the biggest boxing nights the city has hosted in recent years.

For Cacace, the occasion carries extra significance. Not only will it be the first defence of his WBA super-featherweight crown, but it will also mark his long-awaited return to fighting in front of a home Belfast crowd.

Cacace Brings World Title Back to Belfast

The 37-year-old claimed the WBA belt in March after defeating Liverpool’s James ‘Jazza’ Dickens on points in Dublin.

That victory took Cacace’s professional record to an impressive 25 wins from 26 fights and added another chapter to a remarkable period in his career.

Cacace had previously captured the IBF super-featherweight world championship before later relinquishing the belt. His victory over Dickens subsequently returned him to the top of the division as a two-time world champion.

Now he gets the opportunity Belfast boxing supporters have been waiting for — to walk into a major arena in his hometown as world champion.

His previous Belfast appearance came back in May 2023, when he successfully defended his IBO super-featherweight title against Damian Wrzesinski. That contest featured on the card headlined by Michael Conlan’s world-title challenge against Luis Alberto Lopez.

More than three years later, the stakes will be considerably higher.

Nick Ball Steps Up for Two-Weight World Title Shot

Standing opposite Cacace will be one of British boxing’s most relentless competitors.

Liverpool fighter Nick Ball moves up from featherweight looking to become a world champion in a second division.

Ball won the WBA featherweight championship against Raymond Ford in 2024, having previously fought Rey Vargas to a draw in his first world-title challenge.

The 29-year-old suffered the first defeat of his professional career earlier this year when Brandon Figueroa stopped him in the final round of their February encounter.

His record now stands at 23 wins, one defeat and one draw, and the opportunity to immediately challenge for honours at a higher weight makes his Belfast trip particularly intriguing.

Ball is also no stranger to fighting in the city. He appeared on the same Belfast card as Cacace in May 2023, defeating Ludumo Lamati.

A Potential Belfast Christmas Classic

Stylistically, this has all the ingredients for an explosive contest.

Ball has built his reputation around relentless pressure and aggression, while Cacace possesses the experience, size and versatility to either box at distance or meet his opponent in the exchanges.

Cacace has made it clear he is comfortable wherever the contest goes, describing Ball as a tough and accomplished former champion while predicting an entertaining battle.

And then there is the Belfast factor.

A world champion from the city defending his belt at The O2 just days before Christmas should create an extraordinary atmosphere.

Belfast has a long and proud history of producing unforgettable boxing nights, and Cacace now has the opportunity to add his own homecoming title defence to that list.

For Ball, victory would establish him as a two-weight world champion.

For Cacace, it is an opportunity to successfully defend his latest world crown and do it in front of the people who have followed his career from the beginning.

Anthony Cacace vs Nick Ball
📍 The O2 Belfast
📅 Saturday 19 December 2026
🥊 WBA Super-Featherweight World Championship

One Belfast world champion. One former world champion moving up in weight. And one huge night of boxing just before Christmas.

Belfast could be absolutely bouncing.