When Anthony Cacace parted ways with his first world title, it was for the sake of bigger paydays. There’s good money in his upcoming bout for what would be Cacace’s second world title – but there’s another important incentive as well.
His legacy.
“I win this title and I will go down as one of Ireland’s greatest ever fighters, and that is what’s motivating me,” Cacace, a 37-year-old from Belfast, Northern Ireland, said Thursday at the final press conference for his March 14 challenge of WBA junior lightweight titleholder James “Jazza” Dickens. Their match will headline at 3Arena in Dublin and stream on DAZN.
Cacace, 24-1 (9 KOs), shocked Joe Cordina in May 2024 to win the IBF title at 130lbs. But he never made a single defense and ultimately vacated the belt at the start of 2025, wanting what he felt were more lucrative opportunities than taking on his mandatory challenger would provide.
Cacace’s rationale made sense given that he was 35 when he beat Cordina and needed to capitalize on whatever time he had left in the sport. Cacace outpointed Josh Warrington in September 2024 and stopped Leigh Wood last May.
“Two years ago I had absolutely nothing. Now I’ve won the IBO, the IBF, secured my family and done things I thought I couldn’t have,” said Cacace, who is now 24-1 (9 KOs). “Now I am focusing on legacy and becoming a two-time world champ. I’ve got a big heart and big balls, and I want this title so badly.”
Of course, Dickens, 36-5 (15 KOs), will want to hold on to his world title, a peak that also came later on in his career.
Dickens, a 34-year-old resident of Liverpool, England, turned pro in 2011 and was stopped in his first two title shots. In 2016, he was done with a broken jaw after two rounds with WBA 122lbs titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux. In a 2021 rematch with Kid Galahad for the vacant IBF featherweight belt, Dickens was sent packing after the 11th.
But last July, Dickens scored a huge fourth-round stoppage of Albert Batyrgaziev to earn the secondary WBA interim belt at junior lightweight. When primary titleholder Lamont Roach Jnr vacated, Dickens received an upgrade.
“Full respect to Jazza. He has done it the hard way, the same as I have,” Cacace said. “I know Jazza has worked hard, got to this point, and he’s not going to want to let it go. So I know this has got all the makings of a great fight, a very fan-friendly fight. I am just buzzing about it.
“I want to cement my family name in boxing history. I am the first Irish super featherweight champion, so to be two-time and be up there with the likes of Carl Frampton and Katie Taylor, that is what this is all about now.”
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
