James Dickens is on the cusp of proving he's the undisputed king of the super-featherweight division! He's set to face Anthony Cacace in a WBA title fight, aiming to solidify his claim as the world's best. This journey to the top has been a remarkable one, marked by an incredible victory that echoed the spirit of a cinematic legend.
Last year, in Istanbul, boxing icons Tyson Fury and Terence Crawford were in attendance to witness a career-defining moment for James "Jazza" Dickens. He achieved what many thought impossible by defeating the highly-touted Olympic gold medallist, Albert Batyrgaziev. This monumental win not only earned him the WBA Interim super-featherweight title but also paved the way for its upgrade to the full world championship status.
But here's where it gets truly inspiring: Dickens found a personal connection to his triumph, likening it to the underdog story of a beloved movie character. "When I was a kid growing up, we all loved Rocky," Dickens shared with Sky Sports. "For me, it was Rocky IV. I always wanted to have 100 fights and win a world title. My world title fight was my 100th fight, and I was watching Rocky IV growing up."
Much like Sylvester Stallone's iconic character, Dickens has a history of defying expectations. Going into the fight against Batyrgaziev, he was the underdog, facing an undefeated, younger, and heavily favoured opponent. The odds were stacked against him, reportedly six to one! "Batyrgaziev was steaming through everyone, wasn't he?" Dickens recalled. "But some fighters just know that 'this is my night tonight,' and that was one of those nights for us. Luckily, it was on the best night of all, when it matters. I was fighting the Olympic champion from Russia, you know, just like Rocky, and that's just the way it went. Couldn't make it up, really."
And this is the part most people miss: the interim title he secured was later upgraded to the full world championship because the previous holder, Lamont Roach, moved up in weight. This meant that after more than 14 years as a professional, Dickens finally achieved a lifelong ambition, a dream ignited by another Merseyside boxing hero. "I've seen a picture of John Conteh on the wall the first day I ever went into a boxing gym and I said, 'I want to win a world title like him,'" Dickens reminisced. "Years of hard work, you know, all I ever wanted to do in life was to call myself a world champion. As a kid growing up, coming out of my circumstances in life, as a point of proof, a bit of a chip on my shoulder, and I said: 'If I can just be world champion, just one day.' I'm very blessed to be in this position right now."
But is his journey truly over? Dickens insists there's more to come, even at 34. He feels he's rediscovered his passion and drive with his coach, Albert Ayrapetyan. "In this last year there with my coach Albert, I just feel like I've started all again," he explained. "I have the mindset of an adult, but the youth of a young fella, it's unbelievable. I'd say that's where you find your peak - I still don't believe I'm there yet."
His first defense of the title will be against Northern Ireland's Anthony Cacace in Dublin on March 14. Dickens expressed deep respect for his upcoming opponent, stating, "I've got a great level of respect for Anthony Cacace, just as a man as well as a fighter. He's a humble champion. There's people who I look up to, people who I root for, so it's going to be hard not rooting for him in this one."
Dickens' ultimate ambition is not just to be a world champion, but the world champion – the undisputed best in his division. He aims to unify world titles, declaring, "There's a difference between being a world champion, and the world champion. I want to be the world champion."
What do you think? Is James Dickens on track to become the undisputed king of the super-featherweight division? Or will Anthony Cacace prove to be a spoiler? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
