The "Andronicus" Does It Again: Cacace Outpoints Dickens to Capture WBA Gold in Dublin

Cacace Outpoints Dickens to Capture WBA Gold in Dublin Published: Sat Mar 14, 2026 | latestboxing.com DUBLIN, Ireland – On a night charged with local pride at the 3Arena, Belfast's Anthony Cacace proved that class is permanent, outpointing James "Jazza" Dickens to become a two-time world titleholder on Saturday, 14 March. In a battle of seasoned veterans, "The Andronicus" claimed the WBA junior lightweight title via narrow but unanimous scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 116-113. Photo: Frank Warren's Facebook For Cacace (25-1, 9 KOs), it was the latest victory in a remarkable second act to his career. The 37-year-old southpaw entered the ring riding the momentum of statement wins over Leigh Wood, Josh Warrington, and Joe Cordina, and he successfully navigated the tricky challenge posed by the former champion from Liverpool. From the opening bell, the size differential was palpable. Cacace looked the larger man, using his reach to establish a jab while both fighters spent the early rounds feinting and searching for range. However, the fight's complexion changed dramatically in the fifth round. Cacace began to time Dickens, landing a sharp shot that hurt the Liverpudlian and shifted the momentum. What had been a tactical chess match became a test of survival for Dickens, as swelling started to form around his left eye. Dickens, who was upgraded to full titlist following his own massive upset win over Albert Batyrgaziev in Turkey, showed all his experience. Now fighting purely on instinct and courage, the 34-year-old (36-7, 15 KOs) crouched low, trying to burrow his way inside with hooks, desperate to change the trajectory of the contest. Just when it seemed Cacace was cruising, the fight took another twist in the ninth. An accidental head clash opened a cut on Cacace's forehead. As the Belfast man hesitated, waiting for a potential intervention from the referee, Dickens pounced, rattling the champion with a sudden burst of offense. It was a crucial moment that breathed new life into the challenger's hopes. Sensing the shift, Cacace stormed out for the championship rounds. While his aggression was evident, Dickens' movement improved, causing Cacace to miss and potentially allowing the rounds to slip away. The ebb and flow continued until the final bell, with neither man able to establish true dominance, keeping the sizable Dublin crowd on the edge of their seats. When the scorecards were read, Cacace's hand was raised, confirming that his calculated early work and pivotal fifth round had been enough to edge out Dickens' late rally. Speaking after the fight, a relieved Cacace acknowledged the difficult nature of the contest. "Even with a bad night in the office," he reflected, "we can still win a world title." It was a humble admission from a fighter who has rebuilt his career on resilience and power, adding another chapter to his storied resurgence and bringing another title back to Belfast. --- For more fight results and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to latestboxing.com.

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