BoxRec

Impressed by Anthony Cacace, Jazza Dickens ‘will have to adapt’

James “Jazza” Dickens is about to make his first-ever world title defense after more than 15 years as a professional boxer, and he’s not taking on an easy opponent for a victory lap.

Instead, Dickens will face Anthony Cacace, a former junior lightweight titleholder himself who was never defeated for his belt but rather chose to vacate it.

“My coach made me sit down and watch three of [Cacace’s] fights, and he watched a few others,” Dickens said Thursday at the final press conference for their March 14 bout, which will headline at 3Arena in Dublin and stream on DAZN.

“I was very, very impressed by his style of boxing, how he can box like a small man and box like a big man,” Dickens said of the 37-year-old native of Belfast, Northern Ireland. “He is good at everything, really, so we will have to adapt to his skills.”

Cacace, 24-1 (9 KOs), shocked Joe Cordina in May 2024 to win the IBF title at 130lbs. But he never made a single defense – a decision over Josh Warrington in September 2024 was a non-title bout. Cacace ultimately vacated the belt at the start of 2025, and he stopped Leigh Wood last May.

Dickens, 36-5 (15 KOs), scored a huge fourth-round stoppage of Albert Batyrgaziev last July to earn the secondary WBA interim belt at junior lightweight. When primary titleholder Lamont Roach Jnr vacated, Dickens received an upgrade.

Dickens of course is proud to have a world title, but it doesn’t necessarily change his approach to this match.

“You are training for a fight and training to win,” Dickens said. “When you become a champion, you still have to go in there to win your own title back. It is just the same for me.”

Dickens is a 34-year-old from Liverpool, England, who now lives and trains in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Dickens had a longer journey to Dublin than would normally be the case, complicated by the war in the Middle East.

“We had to travel from Oman to Istanbul and then Dublin from Dubai,” Dickens said. “It was the weekend anyway and we weren’t going to train, so it was alright. It was not as bad as what you see on the news now.”

The travel issues are behind him now. So is the training camp. All that’s left is what made those challenges worthwhile.

“We’ve prepared for how we want to fight this fight,” Dickens said, “And I am very excited to hear that first bell.”

Despite being the defending world champion, Dickens is between a +200 and +240 underdog. Cacace, a former world champion, is around a -275 favorite. A draw is +1400.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 06:00 Despite being the defending world champion, Dickens is between a +200 and +240 underdog. Cacace, a former world champion, is around a -275 favorite. A draw is +1400.

Can you post British odds?

mickey1975 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:48

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 06:00 Despite being the defending world champion, Dickens is between a +200 and +240 underdog. Cacace, a former world champion, is around a -275 favorite. A draw is +1400.

Can you post British odds?

Many UK bookmakers currently have Dickens priced at 11/5 or 15/8.

Sky Bet have Cacace around 4/11

Draw around 14/1

Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace weigh-in results:

Dickens - 129.1 lbs
Cacace - 129.5 lbs

Fight night

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:54

mickey1975 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:48

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 06:00 Despite being the defending world champion, Dickens is between a +200 and +240 underdog. Cacace, a former world champion, is around a -275 favorite. A draw is +1400.

Can you post British odds?

Many UK bookmakers currently have Dickens priced at 11/5 or 15/8.

Sky Bet have Cacace around 4/11

Draw around 14/1

Too many possibilities for me to bet on this one. Grant Flores vs Rashid Stevens on the Barboza vs Simms undercard is another thing all together.

Cacace looks absolutely massive at the weight and never looks drained.

Expecting a sting in the tail here because on paper I have Cacace pissing this

Live from 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland..
Queensberry Promotions presents: St. Patrick's Weekend

Time: 4 pm (UK time)
TV/Live stream: Facebook/YouTube
Time: 7 pm UK
TV/Live stream: DAZN UK | Price: £25.99/Month, £249.99/Year
Time: 3 pm ET/ | 12 pm PT
TV/Live stream: DAZN US | Price: $44.99/Month, $449.99/Year

Running Order

*Fight card subject to change.

Live on Facebook | YouTube: 4 pm

4 Round Super-Lightweight Contest
Barry McReynolds vs. Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira

Round Super-Lightweight Contest
Gary Cully vs. Benito Sanchez Garcia

Round Heavyweight Contest
Thomas Carty vs. German Skobenko

Round Middleweight Contest
Bobbi Flood vs. Bela Istvan Orban

8 Round Middleweight Contest
Eoghan Lavin vs. Liam Walsh

10 Round Lightweight Contest
Steven Cairns vs. Arnie Dawson

Live on DAZN: 7 pm UK | 3 pm ET

Vacant IBO Super-Featherweight Championship
Jono Carroll vs. Colm Murphy

Followed by

8 Round Super-Featherweight Contest
Ryan Garner vs. Cristian Bielma

Followed by

4 Round Heavyweight Contest
Adam Olaniyan vs. Jan Bezouska

Followed by

Vacant IBO Super-Lightweight Championship
Pierce O’Leary vs. Maxi Hughes

Followed by

WBA Super-Featherweight Championship
Jazza Dickens vs. Anthony Cacace

———————
Post-Show Card

4 Round Super-Welterweight Contest
Eugene McKeever vs. Adrian Orban

Followed by

4 Round Super-Featherweight Contest
Davey Joyce vs. Wendel Da Costa Santos

Huge card. See above for order: accurate as of this morning.

Two fights after the main event as well.

Prelims live from 4 pm

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:40

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:54

mickey1975 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:48
Can you post British odds?

Many UK bookmakers currently have Dickens priced at 11/5 or 15/8.

Sky Bet have Cacace around 4/11

Draw around 14/1

Too many possibilities for me to bet on this one. Grant Flores vs Rashid Stevens on the Barboza vs Simms undercard is another thing all together.

What you fancy there Keith ?

skanksta wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 12:43

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:40

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑13 Mar 2026, 08:54

Many UK bookmakers currently have Dickens priced at 11/5 or 15/8.

Sky Bet have Cacace around 4/11

Draw around 14/1

Too many possibilities for me to bet on this one. Grant Flores vs Rashid Stevens on the Barboza vs Simms undercard is another thing all together.

What you fancy there Keith ?

Stevens was a good amateur, but he's 38 and hasn't fought in almost three years. Before that he was fighting once a year. Despite all that, he's a very good southpaw with fast hands, but a bit more research reveals he's more of a YouTuber than a boxer these days. Flores has done eight rounds before and De La Hoya matches them carefully, so I'm on Flores to win. I got 2/13 at QuinnBet, which I think is generous considering Stevens' age and inactivity.

I’m going Scouse Power as always

I love Anto The Andytown Apache as well. Really interesting fight for two lads who’ve had very up and down careers, whilst always being in good fights.

Jazza is my mum’s favourite boxer, funny enough.

enjoying the prelims there are 6 fights on it, already had Cully's comeback and Carty's. Cully looked good nearly got stoppage/RSF in rd5 of 6. Carty looked ponderous and lost rounds, albeit after a layoff and he must have been worried about his knee

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 13:17

skanksta wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 12:43

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:40

Too many possibilities for me to bet on this one. Grant Flores vs Rashid Stevens on the Barboza vs Simms undercard is another thing all together.

What you fancy there Keith ?

Stevens was a good amateur, but he's 38 and hasn't fought in almost three years. Before that he was fighting once a year. Despite all that, he's a very good southpaw with fast hands, but a bit more research reveals he's more of a YouTuber than a boxer these days. Flores has done eight rounds before and De La Hoya matches them carefully, so I'm on Flores to win. I got 2/13 at QuinnBet, which I think is generous considering Stevens' age and inactivity.

Not a bad price actually - 1/12 in places.

Delta Jay wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 13:20 I’m going Scouse Power as always

I love Anto The Andytown Apache as well. Really interesting fight for two lads who’ve had very up and down careers, whilst always being in good fights.

Jazza is my mum’s favourite boxer, funny enough.

that is really funny as my late Ma liked Dickens, she felt sorry for him when he got his nose/jaw done vs Rigondeaux and liked him after that as he was always chirpy and friendly. I used to wind my Ma up in messages that she loved Dick(ens). Only did it via SMS as she'd have clobbered me...

I am going to back Jazza in this; two likeable fellas but Jazza may well be the nicest fella boxing, he's had so many hard fights over the years. Hope it is a corker regardless.

skanksta wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 13:27

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 13:17

skanksta wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 12:43

What you fancy there Keith ?

Stevens was a good amateur, but he's 38 and hasn't fought in almost three years. Before that he was fighting once a year. Despite all that, he's a very good southpaw with fast hands, but a bit more research reveals he's more of a YouTuber than a boxer these days. Flores has done eight rounds before and De La Hoya matches them carefully, so I'm on Flores to win. I got 2/13 at QuinnBet, which I think is generous considering Stevens' age and inactivity.

Not a bad price actually - 1/12 in places.

and that's Draw No Bet, so a little bit of insurance as well. They also have Gabriella Fundora at 1/16 and she's fighting a 43 year old Australian, who's never fought in America, has a couple of losses and limited skills. She's 1/35 at 365.

Lavin-Walsh was a corker, stoppage win for Lavin