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Boxing
Leigh Wood: Here are our lessons to learn from Liam Smith before Anthony Cacace comeback
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Leigh Wood returns to the ring for the first time in over a year-and-a-half this week as he bids to inflict a second career loss upon Anthony Cacace in Nottingham.
The star has not fought since October 2023, when he scored a seventh-round TKO stoppage victory over Josh Warrington to defend his IBF featherweight crown.
Since then, Wood has vacated his strap and moved up a class to the super featherweight division - but nor is he yet to test himself at his new level after a lay-off.
The star is not the only British veteran stepping back into the ring in 2025 looking to prove they still belong at the top - but one has already fallen by the wayside.
Liam Smith hoped he could rebuild his reputation last month at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but found himself convincingly beat by middleweight Aaron McKenna.
At 36 - the same age as Wood - it appears that the curtain is coming down on the former WBO light-middleweight champion's hopes of securing another major belt.
Ahead of his crucial battle with a red-hot Cacace seeking bigger things beyond him, here are the lessons his opponent can take from Smith's result into his own bout.
Bring it close and personal
Wood is no stranger to sticking up a toe-to-toe contest, and against the taller, rangier Cacace, he may need to keep it at near-quarters to register his best throughout.
Against McKenna, Smith struggled whenever the younger man was able to put some distance between them, with his extra inches proving crucial to the longer blows.
Cacace has shown throughout his career that he can dictate the flow when he stands off his opponents as much as up against them - Wood will need to close the gap.
Showcase the speed
One thing Smith could not find in the ring last month was his pace, with McKenna effectively able to dictate the contest, especially as he flagged in the latter rounds.
Wood has always had a bit of pace about him, but the problem with a year-and-a-half out of the ring is that nobody yet knows if it has stagnated to dangerous levels.
Cacace isn't the fastest fighter in the division, but his sharp work across his recent fights has stemmed from an ability to control the canvas with his footwork at ease.
There will need to be a concentrated effort to look at where Smith was unable to reel McKenna in for Wood, so he can take pointers to keep himself on the front foot.
Guard the chin
It might be self-explanatory, but Wood will know from his loss to Mauricio Lara that matters can change on a dime in this sport - and Cacace has a few key tricks too.
The former lost his first bout with the Mexican after a left hook shattered his control of the contest, while the latter stopped Joe Cordina with his brutal uppercut display.
Smith meanwhile was unable to keep his chin truly protected against McKenna's power punches, worked by the advantage in height, speed and range as he struggled.
For the smaller Wood, it will be imperative that whenever he is not on the attack, he keeps his chin and head comfortable protected, or Cacace will exploit his struggles.
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