Tonight, St Patricks Day weekend in Dublin, where else would I want to be than the 3Arena as it hits boiling point. Tonight’s boxing see’s world championship boxing returns to the Irish capital. Ireland based Liverpool’s James “Jazza” Dickens makes the first defense of his WBA Super Featherweight title against Ireland’s very own “Andytown Apache,” Anthony Cacace.
A heavy Saint Patrick’s Day weekend atmosphere in a sold out arena, what more could I ask for travelling? This bout represents more than just title on the line. It’s a legacy battle between two veterans who have taken the “scenic route” to the top of the 130lb division.
Tale of the Tape
| Feature | James “Jazza” Dickens | Anthony Cacace |
| Record | 36-5 (15 KOs) | 24-1 (9 KOs) |
| Age | 34 | 37 |
| Height | 5′ 5″ | 5′ 10″ |
| Reach | 63″ | 71″ |
| Stance | Southpaw | Southpaw |
| Titles | WBA Super Featherweight | IBO Super Featherweight |
The Storylines
The Champion: Jazza’s Long Walk
For Jazza Dickens, this title defense is the culmination of a 15-year professional odyssey. After two previous failed world title attempts, Dickens shocked the boxing world last July by stopping the highly touted Albert Batyrgaziev in Istanbul to claim the interim strap. Later elevated to full champion after Lamont Roach Jr. was stripped, Dickens is out to prove he isn’t a “paper champion.”
The Challenger: The Apache’s Momentum
Anthony Cacace enters the ring as the betting favorite despite being the challenger. The Belfast man is on the run of a lifetime, having captured the IBF title from Joe Cordina in May 2024 before vacating it to pursue “bigger nights.” Since then, he has added a clinical win over Josh Warrington and a brutal stoppage of Leigh Wood to his resume. A win tonight would make him a two-time world champion.
Promoter Frank Warren
Is understandably backing his man Anthony Cacace
“You’ve got Anto who I have always had a high regard for, but just never quite brought 100% commitment to the ring until a few years ago. The penny has dropped and now look where he is at. It’s two or three titles that he has won now and he is a great advert for not giving up on your talent, and investing in your talent and believing in yourself, and it has worked for him. It is inspirational, but you know what? The penny dropped. The talent was always there, the heart was always there, but it was that commitment, and when you put all that together, it’s a lesson to be learned for anyone in the fight game. “If you don’t show 100%, you’re not going to get 100% out of yourself. He’s doing that now, and he is doing that in great style and I am thrilled for him.”
Expert Opinion & Analysis
The consensus among ringside analysts points to a “Clash of Range. Declan Taylor Boxing Journalist said “Dickens is a gritty, high-IQ operator who does his best work when he can smother his opponent’s work and land that compact overhand left. However, he faces a massive physical disadvantage tonight. Cacace has a five-inch height advantage and a staggering eight-inch reach lead.”
Key Factors for Victory:
- For Dickens: In my opinion he must get past the long jab of Cacace. If he stays on the outside, he will be picked apart. He needs to turn this into a “phone booth” fight and target the 37-year-old challenger’s body early.
- For Cacace: I see the jab as a range-finder and a weapon. His ability to switch from boxing at range to delivering crunching uppercuts in the pocket (as seen in the Cordina fight) makes him incredibly dangerous as the “bigger” man.
My Prediction
While I think Dickens has the edge in experience and sheer heart, Cacace’s recent form is hard to ignore and makes him favourite across the UK bookmakers for a bet on tonights boxing. The Belfast man is “riding a crest of a wave,” and his ability to stop elite-level 130-pounders like Wood and Cordina suggests he has the power to keep Dickens at bay.
The Pick: Anthony Cacace via late-round stoppage or a wide Unanimous Decision.
How to Watch
- Date: Tonight, March 14, 2026
- Venue: 3Arena, Dublin
- Streaming: Live on DAZN
- Ring Walks: Expected at 10:05 PM GMT
