Anthony Cacace reveals whether he really made a cruiserweight star cry during sparring

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Cacace has opened up about whether he actually managed to make a fighter significantly heavier than him tear up during a training session.

On Saturday night, the boxer will challenge Jazza Dickens for the WBA super featherweight world title at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, in a showdown that has captured the imagination of the fans.

Having gone on a truly remarkable run in the last two years, the boxing world has finally realised just how good ‘The Apache’ is. However, those who grew up around the sport in Belfast have always known that the former IBF 130-pound champion is a real force of nature, with one in particular supposedly having shared some truly torrid rounds with the icon inside the gym.

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Anthony Cacace on whether he made Tommy McCarthy cry in sparring

In his professional career, Tommy McCarthy, who’s now retired from the sport, proved himself to be a tremendous competitor, winning the EBU cruiserweight championship. However, long before he defeated Bilal Laggoune, the athlete was just a kid with a dream, training alongside his friend Anthony Cacace.

As youngsters, the now lifelong pals sparred countless rounds, with some of their sessions really catching fire. During an episode of the Whiskey and White podcast, the pair had an interesting conversation, in which McCarthy was accused of crying after sparring Cacace by Tyrone McKenna, which naturally, the powerhouse wholeheartedly denied.

Therefore, it seemed only right for us to give the reigning IBO super featherweight title-holder a chance to set the record straight.

When asked during an exclusive interview with Sporf whether there were tears, Cacace, who was speaking on behalf of Queensberry and DAZN, answered: “Yes. That was a long time ago. Tommy is the man; he’s one of life’s good guys. It was in St Oliver Plunkett ABC, I still have a vivid memory: he came through the doors as a young boy, and he got thrown in the deep end very quickly. He took a few slaps, but he also gave me a few over the years.”

And McCarthy isn’t the only one who’s had to face the brunt of Cacace’s fury, with ‘The Mighty Celt’ also having had the misfortune of trading leather with the gifted competitor.

Cacace laughed: “I grew up with Tyrone McKenna, from 9 years old. We used to be out in my front garden, with wee mitts on, no headgear, no mouth guards, just beating lumps out of each other. The boxing club was literally across the street, so we just made our way over, and if you look at it all, it’s crazy how it’s panned out. Tyrone McKenna is a very good friend of mine.”

Anthony Cacace makes Jazza Dickens fight prediction

From a garden in Belfast to the pinnacle of the sport, it’s fair to say Cacace has gone on a remarkable journey. And tomorrow night, he’ll have the opportunity to solidify his legacy even further when he attempts to add another world title to his collection when he clashes with Dickens in a bout that looks destined to excite.

When asked for a prediction, the 37-year-old replied: “A Cacace win by any way possible, whether it be points in a boring fight or it be a full-on war and a great fight, it doesn’t really matter to me, as long as I’m getting out of the ring as the WBA super featherweight champion of the world.”

The entire show will be live and exclusive on DAZN, ensuring fans across the globe can witness the atmosphere of a St Patrick’s Day Weekend fight night. Subscribe to DAZN here.

Featured Image Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney