Jazza Dickens enters first title defence with many expecting defeat

Champion enters first defense as underdog against surging challenger

Jazza Dickens defends his WBA super featherweight belt Saturday live on DAZN in Dublin against Anthony Cacace, but the momentum appears to sit with the challenger.

Dickens defends against Anthony Cacace on Saturday night at the 3Arena, but much of the discussion around the fight has focused on whether the Liverpool fighter can keep hold of the title at all. Cacace enters the bout with a wave of momentum after three high-profile victories over Leigh Wood, Josh Warrington, and Joe Cordina.

That run has led many observers to view the Belfast southpaw as the stronger fighter despite Dickens holding the belt. Some even expect the fight to end inside the distance, with Cacace’s power and recent form cited as the reasons.

Dickens, however, has heard similar predictions before in his career. The 34-year-old built his reputation the hard way, climbing through multiple setbacks before finally reaching world-title level. His breakthrough came in 2025 when he stopped Olympic gold medalist Albert Batyrgaziev in four rounds to capture the interim WBA belt, later being elevated to full champion.

That victory showed the kind of persistence that has defined Dickens’ long career. While the attention heading into Saturday’s fight has focused heavily on Cacace’s recent wins, Dickens has repeatedly proven capable of upsetting expectations.

Cacace, though, believes the moment has arrived for him. The 37-year-old challenger has been open about the significance of the opportunity, saying a victory would place him among Ireland’s top fighters.

“I’m raring to go,” Cacace said during fight week. “If I win this title, I can go down as one of Ireland’s greatest ever fighters, and that’s what’s motivating me.”

Those stakes help explain why the fight carries intrigue beyond the usual title defence. Dickens is the defending champion, yet the momentum and public expectation appear to sit with the challenger.

Dickens weighed 129.14 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in, while Cacace came in slightly heavier at 129.5 pounds, both comfortably under the 130-pound limit.

Dickens will defend his WBA super featherweight title against Cacace on Saturday night at the 3Arena in Dublin. The event will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.