Belfast’s Anthony Cacace became the new WBA super featherweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over James ‘Jazza’ Dickens at Dublin 3 Arena.
The 37-year-old, who had an IBF release in 2024 before withdrawing last year, defeated the defending champion on cards 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113 from Liverpool in a hard-fought battle that never quite materialized.
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It all played out in front of a sold-out arena, and Kakas produced the goods to continue his remarkable run.
The victory ensures he remains in the discussion for the No. 9 4lb (59kg) title alongside fellow champions in the division, Mexico’s Emmanuel Navarrete (WBO and IBF) and American Oshaqua Foster (WBC).
“It shows you I can have a bad night at the office and still win the world title,” Kakas told DAZN after the fight.
“Jeza has an awkward style, being southpaw and hard to hit, but I’m the new world champion.”
Kakas wins in cautious battle
Kakas’ appearance to the tune of Zombie sent the already excited crowd through the roof while he awaited Dickens, who seemed overwhelmed by the hostile surroundings.
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The champion presents Kakase with a southpaw conundrum for the first time since 2015, and his career-best win over Albert Batyrgaziev last summer saw him open up and target the body with confidence.
Kakase, in impressive form, found success with his jab, trying to time the champion on the way in, but countered powerfully of his own in the second.
The action had warmed up after the early rounds and Dickens looked more comfortable, in and out as he aimed to the body and dodged some blitzes from the southpaw Kakas who had temporarily joined him, but the Belfast native did enjoy success late in the third, landing a right hand for a flush.
The fourth was cautious, both men clearly respecting each other, Dickens happy to keep just enough distance, perhaps trying to tempt the challenger to step in and punish, but Kakas didn’t take the bait.
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There was a sense that Kakas had had enough of this pattern and he went straight on the attack to start the fifth round, sending Dickens back with an unmistakable roar as Dickens seemed to feel the pressure and began to deliver uppercuts.
In the sixth game, the champion settled down a bit, finishing with his left hand, and the game began to retreat into a technical battle, as success was limited to a single shot either way, with neither side willing to gamble entirely, but Kakase seemed to be trying to do more.
In the ninth, it was Kakas’ turn to look a little uncomfortable, and the Belfast man turned to the referee to complain about a head clash, which Dickens finished with his left hand, one of many clashes that occurred in the game.
Still, going into the final round with neither side really in control, it felt like those three minutes could be crucial.
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Dickens did start with more urgency, with Kakas fighting hard on the back foot, but he was still able to defend some of his rights.
Both men seemed satisfied with their work on the night at the final bell, but there was a feeling that the Belfast corner was happier, and that was confirmed when Kakas returned to the top of the table.
Kakase hopes for a unification struggle next
This encounter between two men in their thirties is always a high-risk thing, because victory will bring more opportunities, and failure will leave a lot to think about in their direction.
Perhaps this intensifies the cautious combat that occurs, and maybe Kakas just needs to go through these extra layers.
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It wasn’t a classic for the Belfast man, but it was enough and he got the win, improving his record to 25-1.
Southampton’s Ryan Garner also appears to be a viable option given his performance on the undercard, stopping Cristian Bielma in three rounds to improve his record to 19-0 and making no secret of his desire to shoot next.
However, Kakas feels he has bigger things to do, saying: “Respect for Ryan Garner, a rising star, but I want a bigger name and unity.”
His promoter Frank Warren told a Dublin audience that Kakas would return home in the summer, but perhaps it could be done in his native Belfast?
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The options were many, but for Dickens it was full circle.
His four-game winning streak ends and he will now look to investigate his options.