LIVERPOOL STREET, CENTRAL LONDON -- Anthony Cacace can't help but smile. This time last year, unexpected fight delays saw his proposed IBO/IBF super-featherweight unification with Joe Cordina postponed three months. He's pitched a career-best campaign since then and this week, fields questions before taking on Leigh Wood in a May 10 headliner.

The grizzled southpaw that no-one wanted to fight, a member of the who needs him club, how does he reflect on 2024? Stunning many to win IBF world honours against an unbeaten champion on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury undercard in Riyadh, then outpointing another former world titleholder four months later on an unforgettable Wembley night.

"Dreamy. I've told everyone here today, this is my third two-time world champion in a row and things are getting serious," he tells The Ring.

"I'm delighted to be here, like a fanboy on this stage and just enjoying the ride."

Now 36 and 24 fights down in a professional career which took a while to get going, the Belfast boxer (23-1, 8 KOs) had the luxury of options for his next fight. He vacated the IBF strap last month, paving the way for a spring showdown between mandatory challenger Eduardo Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) and Japan's Masanori Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant title.

That fight remains a possibility, so long as he's comfortable making the 130lb limit and avoiding eerily similar steps to those taken by Cordina before their matchup.

Cardiff's Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) remains out in the cold after a stunning eighth-round stoppage defeat by Cacace on Saudi shores last May, with the 33-year-old detailing in subsequent months just how tight he was at the 130lb limit before losing all his leverage, having taken one risky title defence too many.

Anto insists that won't be the case for him.

"I'd happily take Nunez next but financially it didn't make sense, this one is a great fight for British and Irish fans, more money too. We'll see how things go, I feel good at super-featherweight, it was tougher than usual to make against Warrington but listen, I've made 130lb six weeks before a fight in the past, it's just about doing things correctly, sticking to the gameplan, my coaches are keeping me right and I rely on their guidance."

While initially underwhelmed with his most recent display in a UD12 win over Josh Warrington - another former world titleholder moving up to make history - he's naturally bullish about how Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) will pose much different threats.

For starters, the proud Nottingham boxer will feel rejuvenated after a 19-month layoff by the time he steps into the Nottingham Arena ring in three months' time. As far as ring rust is concerned, the old adage about staying in the gym certainly applies for a 36-year-old keeping his body and mind occupied even while sidelined with various injuries throughout 2024.

"I'm extremely dedicated to the sport, always been that kid who looks at what I can do rather than what I can't, never feel sorry for myself. I've been in the gym and don't spar outside camps anyway, it's just me living the lifestyle and you're backing the wrong horse if you think otherwise," Wood insisted during Friday's press conference.

Armed with the highly-regarded coaching team led by Ben Davison and Barry Smith helps too, as Cacace himself acknowledged, though he suggested they're at different stages of their journey at world championship level.

Kickstarted with a pair of final-round knockout wins over Can Xu and Michael Conlan, this represents Wood's sixth world title contest.

Given the exhausting two-fight series with Mauricio Lara in 2023, losing virtually every round before turning the tables on Warrington later that year, perhaps that unwanted break is a blessing in disguise as far as freshness. Alternatively, Cacace's riding the wave of momentum many didn't expect to see, not least Frank Warren.

The Hall of Fame promoter said he offered Cacace some fights which fell through, something since attributed to not taking preparations as seriously as he should have. What's the story?

Warren told The Ring: "I saw something in him when he fought on my show in 2019 [against Sam Bowen], won the British title as the away fighter and I liked what I saw from his attitude.

"We made a few fights which fell apart, pulled out for various reasons, probably wasn't taking it too seriously. We made the Cordina fight, told his team he needs to get his ass into gear, that's what he did and showed it in a big style against two world champions. Now, he's going into the backyard of another."

After edging a 12-round split decision against then-unbeaten Sam Bowen on November 30, 2019, The Apache didn't box again for three months shy of two years. Sure, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic would've played a considerable role but other boxers were relatively active, Queensberry doing 20 cards post-lockdown before his next appearance.

"Well, it's a half-truth. I always trained hard but for me, it was genuinely the lack of opportunities. I was a risky fight with no reward, a couple of pounds or whatever, that's it. Cordina took me as an easy shot, I beat him and now I'm here. If they want to think it's a fluke or whatever, let them," he laughs.

After seeing his eyes light up thinking about Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan in Belfast on March 1, he rattles off a series of Irish names -- Queensberry-backed junior welterweight contender Pierce O'Leary, California-based junior middleweight Callum Walsh and a special shoutout for someone he knows well in 24-year-old welterweight Barry McReynolds.

"Irish boxing is booming and as long as I can keep winning, keep the fire lit, long may it continue."