Leigh Wood isn’t expecting an 18 month lay off to affect him in the slightest when he fights former IBF super featherweight champion, Anthony Cacace, next month.

Injury and a change in promotional outfits have kept the two-time WBA featherweight champion out of the ring since he stopped Josh Warrington in dramatic fashion back in October 2023 but despite the long lay-off, the 36 year-old is sure that he will quickly recapture his old form when he steps up to 130lbs to fight Cacace at the Nottingham Arena on May 10th.

DAZN will stream the Queensberry event worldwide.

“I've done it since I was 12 years old to be honest. If people are expecting me to be not as good, not as sharp or not quite on on my level because I've had a bit of a break, they're going to be wrong and they're going to be backing in the wrong horse.

Wood, 28-3 (17 KOs), may have some legitimate questions to answer but Cacace, 23-1 (8 KOs), is 36 years old himself and hasn’t strayed too far from the 130lb super featherweight limit since he made his professional debut all the way back in 2012.

‘The Apache’ has looked extremely comfortable since being given the chance to display his talents on the world stage but if there are questions about what Wood has left, it is only fair that the prospect of Cacace suddenly slowing down is also raised.

Wood hasn’t seen any signs of time taking its toll on the Belfast man and isn’t banking on that happening when they get in the ring.

“He'll have to answer that question for you. I can't answer that for him but one thing’s for sure, I’m extremely confident of getting the job done on May 10th,” Wood said.

“He's had some very good wins. The [Joe] Cordina win especially, an unbelievable win and he's looked good doing it. He looks strong and like he's a fully fledged super featherweight.

“Props to him. That’s what's going to make my victory even better, knowing how on form he is and how good he is and how established he is at that weight,” Wood said.

“I try not to look into it too much but there's no excuses. He’s been active, he's on fire, he's got stoppage wins. The weights not a problem. All these things. To get this victory now, it's like, ‘Whoah, we didn’t expect that.’”

The heavy handed Cacace has long been touted as the dangerous, dark horse of the super featherweight division but he was a revelation during his thrilling title winning stoppage of Cordina last May.

He wasn’t forced to hit top gear during his unanimous decision victory over two-time featherweight champion, Josh Warrington, at Wembley Stadium last September but being given the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level has unlocked previously unseen levels of dedication in Cacace and he is determined to capitalise on the Indian summer he is enjoying.

As dangerous as Cacace is, Wood believes that he is the more battle hardened of the two and has ticked boxes Cacace hasn’t.

“I think I’ve had seven winning title fights - seven winning 12 round title fights - and every single one has touched the canvas. Every single one so I don't think that's going to be any different on May 10th,” he said.

“I know what I need to do. I know how I need to approach the fight, we've been working on it for months. He may hit hard but has his chin been tested? Has he picked himself up the floor? Has he been through that? Is he is he yet to show that yet? We'll see.”