ANTHONY CACACE celebrated St Paddy’s weekend by becoming the new WBA super-featherweight world champion.
, who took 1,600 of his own fans from to ‘s 3Arena, edged out a decision in what threatened to be 12 too-close-to-call rounds.
Anthony Cacace poses with his new IBO World Super Featherweight title fightCredit: Getty
But after scores of 115-113, 116-112, 116-113, Cacace got the nod to become two-time world champ.
He roared: “I’m over the moon. I am on cloud f***ing nine!”
After a cagey opening two rounds, gained early momentum by using his size to back up Dickens.
He really drew first blood in round five when a right hand, left hook combination had Dickens on shaky legs, forced to grab on.
Cacace poured the pressure on with a barrage of shots with Dickens – already showing signs of swelling – swinging desperately wide in his hopes of returning fire.
But maybe sensing the tide was turning against him, Dickens took to the front foot in round six, where he walked onto a perfectly-executed uppercut.
Dickens returned for a strong round seven, in a moment he needed it but Cacace’s left hand was still proving pinpoint.
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will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov while Oleksandr Usyk takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven.
features for the first time since making the switch to Zuffa Boxing and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – George Liddard vs Tyler Denny – British & Commonwealth Middleweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora – DAZN PPV
- Sun 5 – Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper – Sky Sports
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
- Sat 11 – Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis – Netflix
- Sat 18 – Callum Smith vs David Morrell – DAZN
- Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
- Sat 25 – Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka – DAZN
May
- Sat 2 – Zurdo Ramirez vs David Benavidez – WBA & WBO Cruiserweight titles – Prime Video
- Sat 9 – Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois – WBO title – DAZN
- Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN
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After bossing round eight, Cacace found himself in a degree of bother in the ninth as a couple of looping left hooks found the target.
It sparked hope for the champ, who had spent the middle rounds struggling to break Cacace’s rhythm.
But Cacace regained momentum in the tenth using his superior size and strength to back Dickens up.
The pendulum again swung in round 11 when Dickens had Cacace holding on after a swift left hand.
A late fightback was on as Dickens piled on the pressure on the front foot, proving that he would go out swinging.
A couple of left hands breezed past Cacace, who was being made to give up ground on the back foot in the final two rounds.
But his stellar work in the first half of the fight proved enough in the bank and he will take the WBA belt with him on his two-hour journey back to Belfast.
And now Cacace fancies taking his army of supporters over to America for a Stateside trip to face Emanuel Navarrete in a WBA, IBF and WBO unification.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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