Physical dimensions aside, there are similarities between WBA super-featherweight champion James ‘Jazza’ Dickens and Anthony Cacace who will challenge for the Liverpool man’s title in Dublin’s 3 Arena on 14 March.
World glory has come to both men late in their career, while both exude a humble, respectful approach to the challenges they face having come through their individual career setbacks.
Advertisement
In Dublin on Tuesday, they came face-to-face as their St Patrick’s weekend showdown was made official and it was smiles rather than snarls as they went through the head-to-head formalities.
Dickens, who scored a career-best win against 2020 Olympics gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev to win the interim version of the title last July, was upgraded to full champion in December with Lamont Roach now campaigning at a higher weight.
A planned fight with Hayato Tsutsumi in Saudi Arabia on 27 December fell through due to the Japanese fighter picking up an injury, but the stars aligned for the 34-year-old southpaw who returns to a city he knows all too well, having previously trained under Peter Taylor in Dublin before making the switch to Albert Aryrapetyan in Dubai.
“There is no pressure on me now,” 34-year-old Dickens told BBC Sport NI.
Advertisement
“No matter what I do in my career, I can always say I have been world champion and I’m looking forward to the big nights ahead.
“As a fighter, you look forward to what’s next, what’s bigger and unifications ahead, but right now the man standing in my way is Anthony Cacace. He’s a brilliant fighter but I’m looking forward to a big night in Dublin.”
‘Opportunity to become two-time champ mind-blowing’
Cacace won his first world title in 2024 when stopping Joe Cordina for the IBF belt [Getty Images]
Former IBF champion Cacace opted to relinquish the title he won against Joe Cordina in 2024 in order to travel to take on Leigh Wood in Nottingham last May, winning by ninth-round stoppage.
Advertisement
In between, he out-pointed Josh Warrington in Wembley Stadium as his own fairytale run gathered pace, but a back injury sustained against Wood forced him out of a planned fight with Raymond Ford in Saudi Arabia last August.
Like Dickens, the Belfast man has felt there has been a greater plan for him and the opportunity to become a two-time world champion is one he is not taking for granted.
“It’s mind-blowing and even I don’t believe it at times,” the 36-year-old told BBC Sport NI’s Mark Sidebottom.
“Driving down here today, I was saying to the lads, ‘I’m fighting for my second world title’ when a couple of years ago, nobody wanted to know me. I thank the Lord every day for where he has brought me and I want to go as far as I can.
Advertisement
“I have three kids, was earning nothing from boxing and I was ready to walk away, but I have an addictive personality and it kept bringing me back. I was destined for more and I always knew it, so by the grace of God I got there.”
The size difference between the pair is evident and Cacace, a career super-featherweight will hold the aces in that regard when the opening bell rings in March.
While respectful of the champion, Cacace is determined to seize the opportunity and make a statement in the process.
“He’s a southpaw, a lot smaller than me so it will be a tricky fight,” he continued.
Advertisement
“It may not be all-action but I am ready to push it. You don’t get paid for overtime so I want to be stopping these lads and make proper good fights for the public.”
Dickens ‘will go in with challenger’s mindset’
Dickens has been on a four-fight winning streak since making the move up from featherweight where he lost in his second world title fight against Kid Galahad in 2021, having come up short against Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux at super-bantamweight in 2016.
A points win over Zelfa Barrett in February 2025 opened the door for the trip to Istanbul to face Batyrgaziev in a high risk, high reward fight in which he produced the performance of his life, stopping the previously unbeaten Russian in the fourth round.
Advertisement
It’s another big challenge against Cacace, but he will employ the challenger’s mindset and is confident he will prevail.
“I have many tools in my locker and find a way, which I will,” he insists.
“It [Batyrgaziev] was one of my best wins but I go fight-by-fight, so you can’t go into your next fight with the last fight’s mindset.
“Even in terms of being a champion, am I? Once you get in that ring, nobody is the champion. It’s the man who comes out with the belt, so every fight is a challenge and that is my mindset.
“You’ve got to make the most of this opportunity as it could be your last.”