Anthony Cacace impressively stopped Leigh Wood in nine rounds Saturday night while his friend and old sparring partner, Carl Frampton, watching ringside as he worked for DAZN.

Frampton, who won world titles in two weight classes during a highly productive career of his own, was impressed with what he witnessed.

"I thought it was an excellent performance from Anto," Frampton told The Ring. "I know one judge [Steve Gray] had him down [77-75] somehow going into the ninth round. I had Anto winning 6-2 [78-74.]

"I thought he was boxing brilliantly, it was a really clever performance in terms of, he methodically broke Leigh Wood down. I thought his footwork was very, very good. Kind of making Wood fall short and then doing really basic stuff, hitting him with a jab or a one-two after it. I thought he was quality."

Frampton and Cacace go back many years together and Frampton is happy to see his old mate enjoy the Indian summer to his career after repeatedly not being granted the opportunities he'd long craved.

"He's never had any luck in his career," said Frampton. "He's had issues with managers, promoters, injuries, fights falling through. If you remember he was supposed to fight at the [Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte] Wembley bill [versus former IBF junior featherweight titlist Jonathan Romero], your man pulled out three days to go, something to do with his visa. So, no luck on this guy's side at all and took the chance against [Joe] Cordina and he's flying from this point on.

"I think the whole story of Anto Cacace can be inspiration that other people can use. From where he went, all the issues he's had, having to struggle so much and still chasing this dream of being a world champion. It couldn't have happened to a better person."

The Irishman recognizes that Wood's inactivity wouldn't have been the best preparation but prefers to credit the victor.

"I think that definitely played a part in it," he acknowledged. "Being out of the game 19months at any stage of your career isn't good but when you're 34 and being out 19-months and the next time you fight, you're 36, it's not ideal to say the least.

"Anto is the same age of him, the difference is Anto and Leigh Wood is Anto hasn't had any real wear-and-tear on his body, still hasn't been in an out-and-out war. Sometimes these fights can take more than just years off your career, years off your life, if you're involved in too many of them. It's mad to say, Anto is a fresh 36-year-old and I would almost go as far as saying he's improving, which is insane."

And while it'll be several months before we see Cacace in action again, Frampton hopes he'll maximise recent results to get the biggest opportunity possible.

"I think at this stage of your career and age, you're wanting to make as much money as possible and he deserves that because of the effort he's put into his career and what's happened in the later stages," he reasoned. "He deserves to live a comfortable life after boxing with his wife and kids.

"Financially the most rewarding fights are the ones you chase and go after but selfishly, for me, I'd love to see him box in Belfast. That might not be the most fancy rewarding option for him but I'd love to see him top the bill at the SSE [Arena], sell it out no doubt about it.

"Potentially fight someone like O'Shaquie Foster, the WBC champion, who I think may travel. You've a better chance of getting him to travel than other champions at junior lightweight.

"You've got to be thinking sensibly about it and say there's an opportunity against one of the top guys lightweight in [Las] Vegas or something in Saudi for big money, then that's the one you take."