WBA Clears Anthony Cacace Fight With Nick Ball

Anthony Cacace has been elevated to WBA super featherweight “super champion,” clearing him to defend against Nick Ball in Belfast on December 19. Elnur Samedov has simultaneously been promoted from interim titleholder to champion.

The WBA resolution allows Cacace to make a voluntary defense against a ranked opponent before December 31, specifically identifying Ball as the possible challenger.

Cacace and Samedov were originally ordered to meet after the Belfast fighter defeated Jazza Dickens for the WBA belt in March. Queensberry Promotions planned to stage that mandatory defense in Northern Ireland, but the British Boxing Board of Control declined to license Samedov because of issues involving his Russian citizenship and residency documentation.

The ruling handles the immediate licensing problem without resolving the championship dispute. Instead of stripping Cacace or sending him abroad, the WBA has created two champions in the same division.

Cacace benefits most. He keeps a Belfast date that offers home support, stronger ticket sales and a recognizable British opponent. Ball also gets an opportunity at 130 pounds after losing his featherweight title to Brandon Figueroa.

Samedov receives a championship designation without defeating Cacace, although his contractual position is protected. It is another example of a sanctioning body using an additional belt to manage a logistical dispute, leaving fans to wait for one recognized WBA champion. The winner of Cacace versus Ball must face Samedov in a mandatory championship consolidation bout on neutral territory. He will have only 12 days after the December fight to confirm his participation.

That deadline creates an awkward business decision. A victory may generate offers for more lucrative fights, particularly if Ball wins and attracts another major British opponent. The WBA has blocked that route by refusing further special permission or an outside title unification until its championships are consolidated.

A neutral site also removes the financial and competitive advantages attached to Belfast. Cacace would lose his home crowd, while either winner would face added questions involving travel, judging, and ticket demand. The purse percentages and other terms will be determined through a separate resolution. The WBA has preserved the more attractive December event, but the price is a diluted championship picture and another required defense that may be harder to sell.