Despite the miserable weather, it wasn’t quite a storm in Dublin on Thursday, but one is quietly brewing for Saturday night when James ‘Jazza’ Dickens puts his WBA super-featherweight world title on the line against Anthony Cacace in the city’s 3 Arena.
As is the way, there were no bold statements or gimmicks from either at Thursday’s final press conference as their no-frills approach to the fight game ensured the exchanges were complimentary rather than confrontational.
Described as Cinderella Man v Cinderella Man, the pair have travelled rough terrain to get here and that is what sets this up perfectly.
Both have had their setbacks in boxing, with 34-year-old Dickens falling short in world title fights at super-bantamweight and featherweight before getting his hands on the gold when upgraded from the ‘interim’ title he won against Albert Batyrgaziev last summer.
Cacace, 37, endured years of disappointment before stopping Joe Cordina for the IBF version in May 2024, opting to vacate in order to face Leigh Wood in Nottingham last year.
“Until that first bell, all of this [build-up] is just nonsense and we have to sit here and talk,” said Liverpool’s Dickens.
“We just like to fight, but this is part of the business. I think we both just want to get in there and get the respect, throw some punches and shake hands after.”
Cacace is cut from the same cloth, with the Belfast man fully aware of what it has taken the champion to get here considering he has travelled a similar road.
“There is no point sitting here and saying ‘I’m going to do this and that’ because we are fighters and one punch can change everything,” Cacace said.
“I know Jazza has a big heart, same as me. We’re pretty similar in terms of career, so I fully respect Jazza for what he’s done in his career. He’s here for the same reason as me – to put food on the table for his family and that’s the bottom line.”