Anthony

If there is a lesson to be found in keeping the faith when faced with setbacks, look no further than the career of Anthony Cacace.

On Saturday in Dublin’s 3 Arena, the 37-year-old bids to become a two-time super-featherweight world champion when taking on WBA holder James ‘Jazza’ Dickens.

However, for much of his professional career, Cacace was something of a forgotten man.

His talent was never in question, but breaks were measured in x-rays rather than opportunities with injuries, opponent withdrawals and cancellations all too common.

Nonetheless, he kept grinding and grafting, pads by day and pizza delivery by night; waiting, hoping and believing his time would come.

The big chance arrived in May 2024 against IBF champion Joe Cordina on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Back with his old amateur team headed by Michael Hawkins, Cacace – born to a Belfast mother and Italian father – grabbed the opportunity with both hands, returning home to a hero’s welcome and given the ultimate honour of a mural painted close to his parents’ Andersonstown home in the west of the city to mark the occasion.

He hasn’t looked back, defeating Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium later that year and after vacating the IBF title, beating Leigh Wood in Nottingham in May 2025, improving his record to 24 wins with one defeat.

“Fighting for my second world title, things can’t get better than that,” Cacace told BBC Sport NI as he prepared for another training day at Holy Trinity Boxing Club.

“I’ve had my fair share of letdowns and pull-outs at the last minute, but I can’t complain because it’s been all in God’s plan. I really do genuinely believe everything that’s happened has happened for a reason to set me up for times like these.

“To be up here with the boys [coaching team]: Ruairi [Dalton], Michael [Hawkins Jr], Barry [O’Neill], Micky [Hawkins] Sr – it’s been set for me, I genuinely believe.

“It’s like a dream come true, and I’m just really enjoying where I’m at at the moment.”

Chief support will see Dublin’s Pierce O’Leary fight in his home city for the first time as a pro when he takes on replacement Maxi Hughes with the vacant IBO light-welterweight belt up for grabs.

Portsmouth’s Mark Chamberlain was due to face O’Leary, but he was forced to withdraw because of an infection with Yorkshire’s Hughes stepping up in weight for the challenge.

The vacant IBO super-featherweight title is also on offer as Dubliner Jono Carroll and Belfast’s Colm Murphy lock horns, while an interesting addition to the card is Southampton’s undefeated super-featherweight Ryan Garner, who will be keen to earn a crack at the winner of the main event.

James Dickens v Anthony Cacace – WBA world super-featherweight title

Pierce O’Leary v Maxi Hughes – vacant IBO light-welterweight title

Jono Carroll v Colm Murphy – vacant IBO super-featherweight title

Steven Cairns v Arnie Dawson – lightweight

Eoghan Lavin v Liam Walsh – middleweight

Ryan Garner v TBA – super-featherweight

Barry McReynolds v Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira – light-welterweight

Davey Joyce v TBA – super-featherweight

Adam Olaniyan v TBA – heavyweight

Gary Cully v Benito Sanchez Garcia – light-welterweight

Thomas Carty v German Skobenko – heavyweight

Bobbi Flood v Bela Istvan Orban – middleweight

Eugene McKeever v TBA – light-middleweight

Running order and times to be confirmed

Anthony Edwards scored 31 points, Donte DiVincenzo added 18 and the surging Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Clippers 94-88 on Thursday night at Intuit Dome.

Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 12 points and Rudy Gobert had 13 rebounds to help the Timberwolves improve to 5-1 since Feb. 9 and 3-1 since the All-Star break.

Edwards, returning to the site of the All-Star Game, where he was the MVP, shot 12 for 24 from the floor and sealed the victory with a step-back three-pointer over two defenders for a 92-88 lead with 42.9 seconds left.

Minnesota improved to 2-0 on a three-game trip.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 14 for the Clippers, who struggled from the outset with a season-low 38 points in the first half. Kris Dunn had 11 points for the Clippers (27-31), who have lost three consecutive games for the first time since December.

The Clippers struggled on offense without star Kawhi Leonard, out because of ankle soreness. The Clippers shot 40.5% from the floor, including 18.2% (four for 22) in the second quarter. Minnesota shot 43.4% in the game.

The Timberwolves (37-23) scored just 15 points in the second quarter and still topped the Clippers, who had 11. Minnesota led 44-38 at halftime behind 12 points from DiVincenzo and 11 from Edwards.

The Clippers led by six in the third quarter and were up 68-63 heading into the fourth. Edwards’ drive and reverse layup put the Timberwolves up for good at 76-74 with 7:40 remaining.

The Clippers pulled within one three times in the last 2½ minutes, but Edwards answered each time. He scored the Timberwolves’ last nine points.

Up next for Clippers: vs. New Orleans on Sunday night.

Head coach Eddie Howe has urged Anthony Gordon to stay “fully focused” after the Newcastle United forward was linked with a move to Arsenal.

Gordon is the latest key figure at the club to have been subject of reported interest elsewhere.

This is despite the England international dismissing such talk as “a load of rubbish” in an interview with reporters just last week.

Newcastle sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record £125m fee last summer – after the Swede went on strike – and Howe was asked how he could avoid a repeat of a similar saga.

“I’m not sure there’s a lot I can do about that,” he said. “I’ve not seen the story, so it’s news to me.

“But we’re mid-season, we’re in the middle of some of the biggest games of his career, and who knows what’s going to happen internationally with Anthony in the summer as well.

“He’s not got time to look left or right. He’s got to be fully focused on straight ahead and the next game, and trying to be as good as he can be.”

Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento are just some of the Newcastle players who have been touted with moves away in the media in recent months.

But Howe said it comes with the territory.

“It’s your industry that is creating those stories,” he added. “I’m slightly secluded from it.

“If you don’t read it you don’t know who has been linked to who. Is it not just part of modern day football that everyone is just linked with moves these days, not just Newcastle players, but potentially a lot of other clubs have the same issues.

“It’s irrelevant really. It’s how the players react to that. If they absorb it and it affects them, then that’s a negative. But i think our players are robust enough to ignore it.”

The driver of the car involved in a fatal crash in which British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua was injured has appeared in court in Nigeria.

Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength coach, Sina Ghami, died on 29 December after their vehicle collided with a stationary lorry near Lagos, Nigeria.

The former world heavyweight champion, 36, was treated in hospital for his injuries.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, who was driving Joshua when their car crashed, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence.

The 46-year-old appeared at Sagamu Magistrates Court in Ogun state near Lagos on Wednesday, when the case was adjourned until 13 March.

Prosecutors told the court they needed further time to prepare evidence.

Joshua was discharged from hospital two days after the Lexus SUV crashed on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in south-west Nigeria. Ghami and Ayodele were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Kayode, who was making his second appearance at court, is yet to enter a plea.

DAVID Beckham’s close pal Dave Gardner appears to have confirmed which team he’s on when it comes to the Brooklyn Beckham family feud.

The football star’s best friend and former agent shared a photo to mark Cruz Beckham‘s 21st birthday – and seems to have taken aim at the other side.

The sports agent, 49, shared the photo on social media standing with a suited-and-booted Cruz and Marc Anthony.

The long-time family friend wrote: “Have a great day mate. Love ya Cruzie.”

Latino star Marc Anthony was at the heart of the Beckham wedding drama where he is said to have called Victoria Beckham, 51, to the dancefloor, rather than Nicola, 31, for the first dance.

He allegedly referred to the mother-of-the-groom as “the most beautiful woman in the room”, which left the bride ‘in tears’.

MOVING ON

Beckhams celebrate Cruz’s 21st birthday as Brooklyn hosts food festival amid feud

GOLDEN CRAWLS

Brooklyn & Nicola ‘plan to adopt child’ in fresh heartache for Beckhams

He recently broke his silence on the allegations which played a part in “ruining” Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz’s wedding.

Brooklyn, 26, accused his mum of “hijacking” his and Nicola‘s special moment and claimed she danced “inappropriately” leaving him “embarrassed”.

Marc has been a long-time family friend of the Beckhams, meeting David when he played for Real Madrid around 2005.

Four-time Grammy winner Marc, who is one of Jennifer Lopez’s exes, had offered to perform at the wedding as a gift to the couple.

The family, minus Brooklyn, celebrated Cruz’s birthday last week at The Maine Mayfair in London.

He was joined by his parents as well as siblings Romeo, 23 and Harper, 14, as well as his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30 and Romeo’s partner, Kim Turnball, 24.

Meanwhile Brooklyn was busy hosting his very own food festival in Miami, Florida.

Proud dad David appeared to take a swipe at Brooklyn as he praised his youngest son Cruz as “fiercely loyal to family” in a birthday tribute.

The 50-year-old took to Instagram to share an adorable video of some of Cruz’s best moments over the years.

Proud dad David shared a heartfelt caption for his boy as he began: “Happy 21st birthday to my little boy – not so little anymore but the proudest thing that I am of you is the person and the man that you have become.

Seemingly taking a dig at Brooklyn, he continued: “You are kind, considerate and fiercely loyal to your family, friends and everyone around you which makes you a very special person.”

Picture-posting Dave‘s exes include actress Liv Tyler and former Hollyoaks star Davinia Taylor – who he both shares children with.

He recently attended David’s swanky 50th birthday celebrations with his partner, Victoria’s Secret model Jessica Clarke.

Dave met his pal David during his stint at Manchester United Youth Club and the pair have been close from the age of 14.

The footie star was also best man at his wedding in 2003 and made godfather to his son.

Marc previously told The Hollywood Reporter: “They’re a wonderful, wonderful family. I’ve known them since before the kids were born. I’m godfather to Cruz.

“I’m really close to the family. But I have nothing to say about what happened there. It’s extremely unfortunate how it’s playing out — but (how it’s playing out) is hardly the truth.”

BBC Sport pundit Leon Osman says he can see Anthony Gordon scoring more goals in the Champions League if Newcastle United continue to play him up front with Nick Woltemade in behind, after the Englishman scored four goals in his side’s 6-1 win over Qarabag in the knockout round play-offs.

MATCH REPORT: Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United