On Saturday night in Dublin<\/a>, in front of boxing\u2019s loudest crowd, Cacace beat Dickens on points over 12 torrid rounds to win the WBA<\/a> super-featherweight title. The win kept his journey inside the boxing world alive. The Belfast boxer became a two-time world champion and remains one of the sport\u2019s gentle heroes, a man with no concerns for the limelight. <\/p>\n It was the sixth defeat in 42 fights for Dickens, and he had entered the ring as the champion on a night when it was obvious that the two veterans would fight for every second of every round and across every inch of the blood-stained canvas. It was not a classic; it was never going to be a classic, but it was always going to be hard. <\/p>\n Dickens, who is from Liverpool, thought that he had done enough at the end, but the three judges made the right call, and Cacace won with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-113. The judges only agreed unanimously on five of the 12 rounds. On the night, Cacace was just too smart at times, too big, and did enough in tight rounds. <\/p>\n Cacace, who is now 37, has been on an exceptional run of wins, the type of sequence that can be compared with the best by any British or Irish fighter in modern or ancient days. Cacace won the IBF super-featherweight title when he stopped Cardiff\u2019s Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia in 2024, then he beat Josh Warrington, stopped Leigh Wood and defeated Dickens. A stunning quartet of consecutive wins in less than two years. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Cacace won in the eyes of every judge but each score was close (Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cI want big fights now. Unifications with the other champions,\u201d said Cacace at the end, when an attractive fight with Southampton\u2019s unbeaten Ryan Garner, an easy winner on Saturday\u2019s undercard, was suggested. \u201cI want bigger names; I deserve bigger names.\u201d He is probably right, but the Garner fight could deliver a career-high payday, and that is generally enough to turn a fighter\u2019s head. <\/p>\n The two options right now for Cacace to pursue a unification, or even an undisputed title, would both be difficult fights. His old IBF belt and the WBO version are held by a formidable Mexican, Emanuel Navarette, and the WBC belt is currently owned by O\u2019Shaquie Foster, who sounds like he would be right at home on a fight night in Belfast or Dublin. Foster is from Texas and he is beatable. <\/p>\n Navarette has stopped or knocked out 33 of the 40 men he has beaten, his recent form has been stunning, but he is the man that Cacace wants. It would be a super-fight if it could be secured for Britain or Ireland this summer.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Belfast\u2019s Cacace is now a two-time world champion (Getty Images)<\/p>\n Equally, a fight with Garner at Croke Park in Dublin as part of an Irish boxing extravaganza would also be sensational. There is still bold talk of Katie Taylor finishing her career with a send-off fight at Croke Park, and a bout involving Dublin idol Pierce O\u2019Leary has also been linked to the historic venue. <\/p>\n Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing<\/p>\n Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n![\"Cacace](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2266538942.jpeg\")
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