Anthony Cacace became a two-time world champion after defeating Jazza Dickens by unanimous decision in Dublin to claim the WBA super featherweight title on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Cacace prevailed by scores of 116-112, 116-113, and 115-113 after a competitive but controlled performance against the Liverpool southpaw, who had periods of success without ever quite doing enough to turn the fight in his favor.
The bout headlined a packed card in Dublin, with Dickens entering the contest looking to make a statement in his first title defense, while Cacace arrived with the chance to reclaim world honors at 130 pounds.
Cacace Took Control After Tight Start
It was a cautious start from both men, though Cacace edged the opener by being the busier of the two. Dickens responded well in the second, landing the sharper punch of the round and showing signs he could trouble the taller man when he let his hands go.
The fight remained close through the early stages, but Cacace’s timing began to stand out. He snatched the third with a strong shot late in the round after Dickens had enjoyed his own success, and although the champion settled nicely in the fourth, the momentum swung again in round five.
A heavy punch from Cacace at the start of that session visibly hurt Dickens and forced him into survival mode.
Warnings followed for use of the head as the champion tried to recover, but the challenger had already made his mark and from there began to take greater control of the contest.
Dickens Responded But Cacace Closed Well
Dickens continued to show heart and refused to let the fight get away from him completely. He worked his way back into the action at times, particularly in the ninth and tenth, when he tightened things up and took advantage of a slight dip in Cacace’s rhythm.
However, Cacace had built enough of a cushion and finished strongly. He boxed intelligently down the stretch, picked his shots well, and made sure there was no late route back into the fight for Dickens.
An important eleventh round effectively removed any doubt, and the challenger closed out the twelfth knowing he had likely done enough.
World Boxing News scored the fight 116-112 for Cacace, matching one of the official tallies as the Irishman was confirmed the winner by unanimous decision.
The victory sees Cacace crowned a two-time world champion at super featherweight, while Dickens was left to reflect on a spirited effort that ultimately fell short against the more composed and eye-catching work of the new titleholder.
WBN provided full undercard results throughout the night.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
