Vasiliy Lomachenko Targets Anthony Cacace and WBA Title for Comeback
Lomachenko's manager says the 38-year-old is eyeing Cacace's WBA super featherweight belt as a path to undisputed.
Vasiliy Lomachenko is eyeing a return to the ring with WBA super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace as his target, per a report from The Ring via Brian Custer. Lomachenko's manager Egis Klimas identified Cacace as the preferred opponent for the Ukrainian legend's comeback at 130 pounds.
The move would put Lomachenko straight back into the title picture after a long absence from the sport. At 38 years old, the three-division world champion is not interested in a soft landing. A fight with Cacace would give Lomachenko an immediate shot at a world title in his return.
But this is no gimme. Cacace has established himself as a legitimate champion with the physical tools to trouble anyone in the division, per Boxing News 24. His height, reach, and strength present a real test for Lomachenko's trademark footwork and combination punching, especially after extended time away from competition.
Klimas revealed the bigger picture behind the Cacace target. The real prize is the winner of Emanuel Navarrete vs. O'Shaquie Foster, scheduled for October 24 in San Antonio with the IBF, WBO, and WBC titles on the line. A victory over Cacace and his WBA belt would position Lomachenko for an undisputed showdown at 130 pounds.
No agreement has been announced between the Lomachenko and Cacace camps, and no date or venue has been set. But the intent is clear: Lomachenko wants to come back, he wants a title, and he wants a path to undisputed.
Lomachenko at 38, coming off a long layoff, and he's targeting a world champion on the comeback. That is either the most confident or the most reckless thing I've heard all week. Knowing Loma, it's confidence.
The Cacace fight makes sense as a vehicle to the bigger picture. If Navarrete or Foster wins in October and Loma beats Cacace, you've got a four-belt showdown at 130 that would be one of the biggest fights in boxing. That's the play here.
The question is whether Lomachenko's legs still have it. He was always about angles and timing, not power. If the reflexes have slipped even a little at 38, a big, strong champion like Cacace is going to walk through him. I want to see it happen, but I'm not betting on Loma until I see him move in camp footage.
