Anthony Cacace stops Leigh Wood in nine

Anthony Cacace forced Leigh Wood’s corner to throw the towel in Nottingham.

Anthony Cacace forced Leigh Wood’s corner to throw the towel in the ninth round, scoring a big road win over the Nottingham home favorite.

Wood (28-4, 17 KO) was ruled down earlier in the ninth round when he was knocked into the ropes, which was the right call by referee John Latham, as only the ropes kept him on his feet.

The towel came in with 44 seconds remaining in the ninth round, as Cacace (24-1, 9 KO) kept landing clean shots, ending what had been an entertaining fight with the standard warrior effort from Wood, who was just outgunned moving up in weight and having not fought in 17 months.

“I got the win away, and did the same as I do always. I traveled here, I conquered,” Cacace said.

Asked whether he feels he made the right decision to vacate the IBF belt to take this fight, Cacace said it was all about the money on offer.

“I took this fight for solely money, the money was double (than to fight Eduardo Nunez). That’s why I’m in Nottingham tonight. Show me the money and I’ll travel anywhere. It’s my time now. I’m 36, it’s time for me to keep her truckin’.”

The name of WBC titleholder O’Shaquie Foster came up, too, with Cacace saying he’d “do that fight next week. Let me know what the money is, it has to be better than tonight.”

Promoter Frank Warren said he intends for Cacace to have a homecoming in Belfast, and also credited Wood for a good fight tonight.

“I don’t want to make any excuses,” Wood said. “It was hard tonight, harder than usual. He’s a great fighter. If I’m going to lose to anyone, I want to lose to a gentleman like Anthony Cacace, and I hope he goes on a good run. ... No shame in losing to a guy like him.”

Wood, 36, said he’s not going to make any decisions right now on continuing his career or not.