James 'Jazza' Dickens v Anthony Cacace

[Master]

James 'Jazza' Dickens will make the first defence of his WBA super-featherweight title against Belfast's Anthony Cacace at Dublin's 3 Arena on Saturday, 14 March.

The Liverpool southpaw was upgraded to full champion in December as Lamont Roach was stripped of the belt, having fought in lightweight and light-welterweight bouts since his last title defence against County Tyrone's Feargal McCrory in 2024.

Dickens, who has a 36-5 record with 15 knockouts, won the interim title with a fourth-round stoppage of Albert Batyrgaziev in July and was scheduled to face Hayato Tsutsumi in Saudi Arabia on 27 December but withdrew through injury.

Instead, the 34-year-old will take on former IBF champion Cacace - who has one defeat from 25 fights with nine knockouts.

He relinquished the belt in order to face Leigh Wood in May, a fight the 36-year-old won by ninth-round stoppage at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena.

Cacace has been out of the ring since then, with a back injury forcing him out of an August meeting with Raymond Ford in Saudi Arabia.

However, he returns to take on Dickens as he bids to become a two-time champion, having beaten Joe Cordina to win his first title in Saudi Arabia in 2024 before defeating Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium four months later.

Chief support on the night will be a light-welterweight battle between two big punchers in Dublin's Pierce O'Leary and Portsmouth's Mark Chamberlain.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/c39pgemlpr3o

[TIC]

this is actually a very even match up. i slightly favour anthony but could really go either way

[Master]

Respect your opinion. I hope Cacace can win this as he was struggling at the lower weight.

[TIC]

I hope Cacace can win this as he was struggling at the lower weight.

lower weight? anthony has pretty much been around super feather/ lightweight most of his career

i only say this fight is a very even match up based on jazza's recent form, especially his last fight. generally i would think anthony should be the strong favourite

[Master]

If there is a lesson to be found in keeping the faith when faced with setbacks, look no further than the career of Anthony Cacace.

On Saturday in Dublin's 3 Arena, the 37-year-old bids to become a two-time super-featherweight world champion when taking on WBA holder James 'Jazza' Dickens.

However, for much of his professional career, Cacace was something of a forgotten man.

His talent was never in question, but breaks were measured in X-rays rather than opportunities with injuries, opponent withdrawals and cancellations all too common.

Nonetheless, he kept grinding and grafting - pads by day and pizza delivery by night - waiting, hoping and believing his time would come.

The big chance arrived in May 2024 against IBF champion Joe Cordina on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Back with his old amateur team headed by Michael Hawkins, Cacace - born to a Belfast mother and Italian father - grabbed the opportunity with both hands, returning home to a hero's welcome and given the ultimate honour of a mural painted close to his parents' Andersonstown home in the west of the city to mark the occasion.

He hasn't looked back, defeating Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium later that year and, after vacating the IBF title, beating Leigh Wood in Nottingham in May 2025, improving his record to 24 wins with one defeat.

"Fighting for my second world title, things can't get better than that," Cacace told BBC Sport NI as he prepared for another training day at Holy Trinity Boxing Club.

"I've had my fair share of letdowns and pull-outs at the last minute, but I can't complain because it's been all in God's plan. I really do genuinely believe everything that's happened has happened for a reason to set me up for times like these.

"To be up here with the boys [coaching team]: Ruairi [Dalton], Michael [Hawkins Jr], Barry [O'Neill], Micky [Hawkins] Sr - it's been set for me, I genuinely believe.

"It's like a dream come true, and I'm just really enjoying where I'm at at the moment."

While Cacace has taken the scenic route to the big nights, he is familiar with the mindset the champion will carry into this weekend.

Liverpool's Dickens came up short in world-title fights at super-bantamweight and featherweight before delivering the performance of his life when stopping 2020 Olympic gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev to claim the 'interim' WBA title last July - upgraded to full champion in December.

"Jazza has been waiting the guts of 15 years, longer to become a world champion, so I know it's not going to be easy," Cacace predicts.

"It's a hard sport and we all give a lot of hard work, sacrifice and I think it's going to be a real gruelling fight.

"Jazza has just won the world title and he's trying to set his family up. I know what I'd be willing to do in his situation, so I can only say he is willing to do the same."

When it comes to faith, Cacace's is much deeper than boxing.

Before each fight, he pays a visit to St Jude's Shrine in Carlingford, County Louth to offer prayers and thanks for how his life has turned around.

"I go down, I say my prayers and I leave a wee message. In the same way as other boxers will have different types of rituals, that's mine."

If those prayers are answered this weekend, then Cacace will return home with a second world title belt.

Just a few years ago, such a scenario seemed like a long shot at best, but staying the course when it may have been easier to walk away from the sport has finally brought its rewards.

Providing for his family has always been the primary motivation but the opportunity to add to his legacy? He won't say no.

"This is to go down as one of the greatest Irish fighters ever, so no pressure," he said with a smile.

"It's mad because two years ago, no-one knew me. All of a sudden, I have a chance to fight for two world titles in two years.

"I never expected to be in this position. Everything I've wanted out of this sport, I have now. This is just an extra bonus, and a massive bonus at that. Hopefully, I can take this opportunity and make everyone proud."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cwyk2kw90geo

[Master]

Cacace, 37, endured years of disappointment before stopping Joe Cordina for the IBF version in May 2024, opting to vacate in order to face Leigh Wood in Nottingham last year.

"Until that first bell, all of this [build-up] is just nonsense and we have to sit here and talk," said Liverpool's Dickens.

"We just like to fight, but this is part of the business. I think we both just want to get in there and get the respect, throw some punches and shake hands after."

Cacace is cut from the same cloth, with the Belfast man fully aware of what it has taken the champion to get here considering he has travelled a similar road.

"There is no point sitting here and saying 'I'm going to do this and that' because we are fighters and one punch can change everything," Cacace said.

"I know Jazza has a big heart, same as me. We're pretty similar in terms of career, so I fully respect Jazza for what he's done in his career. He's here for the same reason as me - to put food on the table for his family and that's the bottom line."

"Two years ago, I had absolutely nothing, but I've won the IBF, secured my family's future and done things I never thought I would have - now it's about legacy," he said.

"I want to cement my family name in Irish boxing history. I am the first Irish super-featherweight champion and to go on to become two-time like Carl Frampton, Katie Taylor and all the greats, this is what it's all about.

"I want this title so badly. I know Jazza has worked his whole life to get to this point and won't want to let it go easy, so it has the makings of a fan-friendly fight."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cx24zyd0v4lo

[Master]

Dickens embarked upon a two-day journey that saw him travel to Oman where he caught a flight to Istanbul and from there, it was off to Dublin.

Such a curve ball in the build-up to a career-defining night could throw a fighter off course, but Dickens brushed it off, reasoning: "I wasn't training anyway, so it killed a bit of time."

"It was very safe," he told BBC Sport NI of his situation in Dubai.

"You didn't feel uneasy, but there were air-raid sirens on the phone. I suppose that was a bit unsettling when it was happening, but you get used to that.

"They are doing a great job out there, intercepting everything that's coming their way so they've kept the place quite safe.

"Getting on a plane out of Dubai was my only concern and it turned out we couldn't, but got out of Oman instead."

With that significant road block now cleared, there is an 'Andytown Apache' in his sights as he puts the world title on the line for the first time.

"I'm not giving ground and he isn't giving ground" is how Dickens views Saturday night and considering how the pair have arrived at this juncture, it is difficult to argue with that pre-fight synopsis.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/a...s/cx24znr8gz3o

[Master]

Olaniyan wins his first professional contest in the first minute of the first round.

The rest of the undercard has not been good.

[Master]

The undefeated O'Leary breaking down Maxi Hughes and drops him down in round 4. It may end soon.

[Master]

Sure enough Pierce O'Leary wins IBO title on St Patrick's Day. In Dublin.

[Master]

Very cautious fight from both Dickens and Cache with a lot of missing. They seem to be trying to figure each other out. Even after 4 rounds.

[Master]

Cacace slowly winning now in the middle rounds landing cleaner shots but still a lot of missing.

[Master]

Dickens was better in the last few rounds but Cacace may get it by the judges.

[Master]

Cacace wins by UD. Not a great watch. The styles did not match for a good contest. Both honest professionals who are having great end of his career.