The IBF is allowing the new 130lbs champion Anthony Cacace to meet Josh Warrington in a non-title fight on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
Should the former featherweight champion Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) win the bout on the undercard of the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua IBF heavyweight title fight, the IBF junior-lightweight belt will become vacant.
By winning the IBF title with an eighth-round stoppage of Joe Cordina on May 18, Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs) became obligated to defend it next against his mandatory challenger Eduardo Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) of Mexico.
In its announcement on Monday, the IBF said that Nunez provided consent of Cacace-Warrington, sparring Cacace from being stripped of his new belt.
“Should Anthony Cacace win on [Saturday], he must make a mandatory defense of the IBF junior-lightweight title against [top-]ranked mandatory contender Nunez within 180 days or by March 20,” the organisation announced.
Nunez is coming off of a sixth-round knockout of Miguel Marriaga on August 31.
By Lance Pugmire