Anthony Cacace added another chapter to the strongest stretch of his career on Saturday night, defeating Jazza Dickens by unanimous decision to win the WBA junior lightweight title at Dublin’s 3Arena. The Belfast fighter earned scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-113 in a competitive but controlled 12-round fight.
Click here to watch live boxing tonight on DAZN!
The result continued a run that has quietly turned Cacace into one of the division’s most trusted veterans. Entering the bout on the back of wins over Leigh Wood, Josh Warrington and Joe Cordina, the 37-year-old once again relied on patience and size to work past another experienced opponent.
Dickens started brightly, with movement and quick entries from his southpaw stance during the opening rounds. The Liverpool fighter tried to disrupt Cacace’s timing with angles and short bursts before slipping away, but the Belfast native gradually began to land the more authoritative blows as the fight wound down.
A key moment came in the fifth round when Cacace hurt Dickens with a sharp shot that forced the champion into defensive survival. Swelling formed around Dickens’ left eye as the challenger applied steady pressure, often returning him to the ropes and landing the cleaner blows.
Dickens remained competitive and continued to look for opportunities to change the fight’s direction. A left hand in the sixth round stopped Cacace’s forward thrust briefly, and the Liverpool veteran produced another strong performance in the ninth after a clash of heads left Cacace cut on the forehead. Dickens quickly followed up during the series and had one of his best rounds as the Belfast fighter regrouped.
Neither man established prolonged dominance, but Cacace repeatedly found success when the exchanges slowed down. His jab and right hand landed with greater consistency in the second half of the fight, while Dickens often needed bursts of activity to keep rounds close.
The judges ultimately sided with Cacace’s steadier work over the distance. The win improved his record to 25-1 (9 KOs) and delivered another big win during the most productive period of his career.
Dickens, who entered the fight with a record of 36-6 (15 KOs) after upsetting Albert Batyrgaziev to claim the WBA belt last year, showed resilience throughout the contest but was unable to overcome Cacace’s size and measured pressure over twelve rounds.
Cacace later admitted it wasn’t his sharpest performance, but the result still brought another world title to Belfast. Even on a night when everything didn’t come easy, the veteran again found a way to win.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 2026/03/14 at 19:17
