Anthony Cacace became a two-time world champion after defeating Jazzy Dickens by unanimous decision in Dublin to win the WBA super featherweight title on St. Patrick’s weekend.
Cacace won by scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 115-113 in a tight but controlled performance against Liverpool’s southern midfielder, who had periods of success but never did enough to turn the fight to his advantage.
The fight was the main event in Dublin, where Dickens entered the contest looking to make a statement in his first title defense, while Cacace arrived with a chance to regain world honors at 130 pounds.
Cacace took over after a tight start
They both started cautiously, although Cacace opened up the advantage, being the busier of the two. Dickens responded well in the second minute, landing the sharper punch of the round and showing signs that he could cause trouble for the taller man when he let go of his hands.
The fight was tight in the early stages, but Cacace’s moment began to stand out. The third goal was scored with a powerful shot overdue in the round after Dickens had been enjoying his own success, and although the champion had established himself well in round four, the momentum picked up again in round five.
Cacace’s ponderous blow earlier in the session clearly hurt Dickens and forced him into survival mode.
There were then warnings about the utilize of the head as the champion tried to recover, but the challenger had already made a name for himself and from there began to take more control of the fight.
Queensberry
Dickens responded but Cacace closed well
Dickens continued to show heart and didn’t let the fight get away from him completely. He returned to the action at times, particularly in the ninth and tenth sets, when he improved the situation and took advantage of a slight deterioration in Cacace’s rhythm.
However, Cacace built enough of a lead and finished strongly. He boxed intelligently throughout the entire episode, chose his punches well and made sure there was no way back into the fight for Dickens later.
An crucial eleventh round effectively removed any doubts, and the challenger finished the twelfth knowing he had probably done enough.
World Boxing News scored the fight 116-112 for Cacace, which was consistent with one of the official results, and the Irishman was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
With the victory, Cacace was crowned a two-time super featherweight world champion, leaving Dickens time to reflect on a spirited effort that ultimately fell tiny of the novel titleholder’s more composed and eye-catching work.
WBN reported full undercard results throughout the night.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Bill Haney outlined tonight how he sees the year unfolding if Devin settles the case against Romero. The elder Haney indicated that a second fight with Ryan Garcia could be next, hinting at the possibility of a return to competition later in the year if all goes as expected. Much still has to happen before the rematch between both players takes place in September. Haney and Ryan will need to win their next fights this year. Their rematch will also require negotiations.
“I can’t wait for Devin to beat Rolly Romero on May 30 here in Las Vegas,” Bill Haney told Fighthype. “Then we can have a rematch with the Garcias in September.”
This comment effectively put the Garcia fight on Bill’s calendar before Devin even stepped into the ring with Romero. Romero is widely viewed as a risky puncher who can change a fight with one shot, making the timing of rematch talks noteworthy. Bill also made it clear that he thought Garcia should be ready if Devin won.
“We are signed up for war right now,” Haney said. “Ryan, get your ass out there too and let’s make it happen.”
A second fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia would immediately become one of the biggest events boxing could host. Their first meeting sparked huge interest across the sport and left a lot of unfinished business between both camps.
However, before any discussion of a rematch can move forward, Devin Haney must first defeat Romero on May 30. For Devin, it’s not certain. Bill Haney is already pointing to Ryan, but direct tests in Las Vegas will determine whether the plan will come to fruition.
Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera has revealed his top five pound-for-pound list, making it clear who he believes is definitely in first place.
It is generally accepted that undisputed two-division champions Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue are the crème de la crème, given their complete dominance in multiple weight classes.
In particular, Usyk scored a series of monumental victories against the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, becoming the greatest heavyweight of his era.
Inoue also put to rest any doubts about his supremacy at 122 pounds, where he will defend his undisputed crown against Junto Nakatani on May 2.
While there isn’t much discussion about Usyk and Inoue’s place on any ranking list, the remaining spots are obviously much more subjective.
According to BarreraHowever, Usyk takes the top spot ahead of Inoue, with the remaining spots occupied by Dmitry Bivol, Jesse Rodriguez and Canelo Alvarez.
“Usyk number one.
Number two Inoue; number three Bivol; number four “Bam” Rodriguez; number five I think [is] “Canelo Alvarez.”
Bivol became the undisputed lightweight heavyweight king in February 2025, exacting revenge on Artur Beterbiev with a career-defining majority victory.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez has been taking the minor leagues by storm in recent years, perhaps most notably beating out Clear Edwards and Juan Francisco Estrada in 2024.
As for Canelo, it has become harder to justify his top-five finish since the Mexican lost to Terence Crawford, who moved up two weight classes in September to secure a unanimous decision victory.
After his victory over Kenneth Sims Jr. Arnold Barboza Jr. he made it clear that he was looking for the biggest fights available in the welterweight division. After Saturday night’s victory, Barboza named several massive names as his next opponents, including Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.
Barboza said a fight with Ryan Garcia makes particular sense given their shared promotional affiliations. The fight was already discussed earlier this year before plans changed.
“I think it’s the perfect fight for him,” Barboza said of Ryan. “This fight was supposed to take place in February. We have been negotiating this fight.”
Ryan’s immediate future remains uncertain as things start to look up for the welterweight division. Haney is expected to have another major fight, leaving Barboza hoping that Garcia will be available if he is looking for a summer fight.
Barboza also reiterated his desire for a rematch with Teofimo, the only fighter to beat him as a professional. The defeat continues to be a motivating factor for the Californian fighter as he looks for his first shot at a world title.
“Of course I would love to get my licking back,” Barboza said. “This is my only loss.”
In addition to those two names, Barboza mentioned Haney among the champions he is eager to face as he continues his fight in the 147-pound division. He also dismissed a recent social media sparring tour involving Keyshawn Davis, saying he would be willing to fight Davis if the lightweight fighter decided to move up in weight.
Earlier in the evening, another potential opponent briefly entered the discussion when Alexis Rocha entered the ring following his own win on the same card against Joseph Diaz Jr.. Barboza indicated he would take the fight if needed, although his post-fight comments made it clear he preferred the bigger fights currently available in the division.
For Barboza, the victory over Sims was another step forward in a career built on taking on tough fights. As his performances have strengthened his position in the league, he now hopes that his next chance will come against one of the biggest names in the sport.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most crucial fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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