Cacace defeats Dickens to land second world title
Belfast's Anthony Cacace is the new WBA super-featherweight champion thanks to a unanimous decision win over James 'Jazza' Dickens at Dublin's 3 Arena. The 37-year-old, who claimed the IBF version in 2024 before vacating last year, did enough in a gruelling battle, which never fully came to life, to dethrone the defending champion from Liverpool on cards of 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113. It all played out in front of a sold-out arena as Cacace produced the goods to continue his remarkable run.
This victory ensured he remains in the conversation as to whom is the 9st 4lb (59kg) top dog with Mexico's Emanuel Navarrete (WBO and IBF) and USA's O'Shaquie Foster (WBC) the other champions in the division. "That showed you what I can do on a poor night at the office and still win a world title," Cacace told DAZN after. "Jazza had an awkward style, a southpaw and was hard to hit but I'm the new world champion.
" The outgoing champion had no complaints and admitted a more front-foot approach in the later rounds just wasn't enough. "I could have been different on another night. I'm happy for Anto, but it's gutting," the 34-year-old told reporters after.
"We thought we were ahead until we heard the scorecards and had to change the plan, but I can't complain and I'm not crying about it. "Who knows what's next, but I will just put my trust in the Lord. " Cacace emerged to the strains of 'Zombie' which brought an already pumped-up crowd to raise the roof once again as he waited on Dickens who seemed non-plussed by the hostile environment.
The champion was posing the southpaw puzzle to Cacace for the first time since 2015 and his career-best win over Albert Batyrgaziev last summer saw him open with confidence, targeting the body. Cacace, on his own run of impressive form, enjoyed success off the jab, seeking to time the champion on the way in but would take a solid counter of his own in the second. It was warming up nicely after the early rounds with Dickens looking more comfortable, darting in and out as he targeted the body and slipped some raids from Cacace who temporarily joined him as a southpaw, but the Belfast man did enjoy success late in the third with a right hand landing flush.