Jazza Dickens finds himself in the form of his life, having endured around 15 years of hard graft to finally become a world super-featherweight champion.
The Liverpudlian got off to a flying start in 2025, unanimously outpointing Zelfa Barrett in what was considered a sizable upset.
Then, when he faced Olympic gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev in Turkiye later that year, Dickens occupied the underdog role once again but nonetheless emerged with an emphatic fourth-round stoppage victory.
Since then, the 34-year-old has been elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBA champion, while having earned the opportunity to defend his title against Anthony Cacace on March 14.
But while one would suspect that confidence played a significant role in Dickens’ last two performances, Jazza has told Boxing News that he prefers to pay closer attention to the finer details of his training.
“I try not to let [confidence] be a factor in the fight. I’ve learned many lessons over the years and, for some fights, I’ve been super confident and lost.
“Then you realise it’s not a matter of how confident you are; it’s a matter of how much training you’ve done, whether the tactics are right, and how you’re able to implement those tactics on the night.
“Confidence comes and goes, doesn’t it? If I get a hiding in sparring tomorrow, I’m not going to let that be the deciding factor of how my camp’s gone.”
In terms of the psychology of a fighter, there is no small amount of selfishness – which often goes hand-in-hand with loneliness – that comes with an unwavering ambition to reach the highest level.
And this mindset, it seems, is something that Dickens has experienced – and grown increasingly familiar – with over the years.
“All I wanted to do in life was become a world champion. I’ve dedicated my whole life to [boxing] and that’s just the way I am – it benefits me more than anyone else.
“I’m not missing out from not having fun with everyone else; my fun is on the night, fighting.
“I’m a very, very selfish man. When it comes to time, I can’t share my time with anyone – it’s mine.
“I was having this conversation with [former Everton football defender] Alan Stubbs. He said he doesn’t know how anyone can dedicate their life to boxing and be so selfish, and I was saying, ‘I don’t know how you can be so selfless and carry a teammate, who’s not giving his all.’
“We’re just built this way, boxers. And, if you’re not, you better get that way or scrap it, because there’s someone out there who’s going to be giving it everything, being selfish and putting his life on the back burner to beat you, to steamroll you.”
Sure enough, Dickens has not lost sight of what is required to not only reach the pinnacle of his sport, but also maintain his status at world level.
Against former world champion Cacace, the defending champion knows he will need to be at his very best, despite his opponent having remained out of the ring since his ninth-round stoppage victory over Leigh Wood in May 2025.
“[Cacace’s] in the best form that he’s ever been in, and I’m in the best form that I’ve ever been in, so it’s going to make for a great fight.
“If it’s going well for me, then he’s good enough to change. And if it’s going well for him, I’m good enough to change, so it’s going to be a fight of many different tactics.
“I know he’s had a bit of time out [the ring] but I believe he’s a good rest, and that I’m going in there with the best Anto Cacace.”
In a 50/50 matchup like this, there is barely a whisker to separate both Dickens and Cacace, who will square off at the 3Arena, Dublin, this weekend.
