From Forgotten Fighter to Championship Glory Cacace Seeks Second Crown

Anthony Cacace is one victory away from reclaiming world championship glory. The 37-year-old Belfast boxer will face WBA super-featherweight title holder James ‘Jazza’ Dickens at the 3 Arena in Dublin on Saturday, aiming to become a two-time world champion. Cacace’s path to this opportunity has been far from straightforward, marked by injuries, opponent withdrawals and cancelled fights that risked derail his career entirely. Yet the former IBF champion persevered, working as a pizza delivery driver while training relentlessly, until his breakthrough moment in May 2024 against Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia. Since winning that first world title, Cacace has defeated Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood, establishing himself as a formidable force in the division.

The Long Journey to Acknowledgment

Anthony Cacace’s path toward world championship contention stands as a testament to resilience in the face of the odds. For the bulk of his professional career, the Belfast fighter was largely overlooked despite having undeniable talent. Physical setbacks derailed his progression at key points, while cancellations by opponents and eleventh-hour pullouts became an unfortunate pattern that threatened to snuff out his championship dreams completely. Through it all, Cacace refused to surrender his ambitions, balancing demanding workouts at Holy Trinity Boxing Club with night shifts delivering pizzas to get by financially. His firm belief that his moment would ultimately happen kept him driven during the most difficult times of disappointment and frustration.

The breakthrough moment came in May 2024 when Cacace received his long-anticipated opportunity on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury in Riyadh, opposing IBF champion Joe Cordina. Teamed up with his amateur coach Michael Hawkins and his team, Cacace seized the chance with both hands, producing a career-defining performance that won the IBF title. His victorious homecoming to Belfast was marked by a hero’s welcome and a mural painted near his Andersonstown home, solidifying his status as a local sports legend. Since that defining moment, Cacace has continued his impressive run, defeating Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium and Leigh Wood in Nottingham, positioning himself as a legitimate championship contender.

• Injuries and opponent withdrawals hampered Cacace’s early career progression on multiple occasions
• Employed as a pizza delivery driver while pursuing boxing dreams on a full-time basis
• Claimed the IBF title in May of 2024 facing Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia
• Has since beaten Warrington and Wood, raising record to 24 wins

A Champion’s Mindset Forged Through Hardship

What Cacace carries into the 3 Arena on Saturday is something that cannot be learned in any training facility: the psychological strength of a boxer who has endured years of disappointment and emerged stronger for it. His route to world title contention was far from conventional, yet it has provided him with a resilience that few opponents possess. At 37 years old, Cacace understands the precious nature of opportunities in boxing’s professional ranks. Each setback, each cancelled bout, each injury has served as preparation for occasions exactly like this. His training team—Michael Hawkins Sr, Ruairi Dalton, Michael Hawkins Jr, and Barry O’Neill—understands this mental edge and has constructed his preparation to maximize it.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI during practice sessions at Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Cacace’s philosophical approach to his career becomes evident. He views his extended hardship not as lost time but as part of something bigger, a belief that fuels his confidence heading into this fight. “I’ve had my plenty of letdowns and pull-outs, but it’s all been in God’s plan,” he explained, reflecting on extended periods of disappointment transformed into drive. This outlook, born from genuine hardship rather than cliché, represents the mindset of a man who refuses to waste what may be his final opportunity at title glory.

Dickens’ Path to the Top

Cacace’s opponent, Liverpool’s James ‘Jazza’ Dickens, comprehends this struggle intimately. The WBA champion has followed a equally demanding path to world championship contention, taking approximately 15 years working through the professional circuit before eventually attaining his breakthrough. Dickens fell short previously in fights for world titles at both super-bantamweight and featherweight divisions, experiencing the harsh reality of defeat when the championship appeared within grasp. These reverses could have determined his boxing career, yet much like Cacace, he pushed past the letdown and kept grinding toward his ultimate goal.

Dickens’ breakthrough occurred last July when he produced a stunning performance against 2020 Olympic gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev to secure the ‘interim’ WBA title, which was subsequently upgraded to undisputed championship status in December. This victory marked the pinnacle of his long journey and established him as a formidable champion. Both fighters arrive in Dublin bearing the burden of their experiences, having faced lengthy periods of disappointments before attaining championship level. This mutual recognition of adversity creates a captivating story where no fighter can claim dominance grounded in mental toughness alone.

Faith as Foundation

At 37 years old, Anthony Cacace carries far more than boxing experience into the 3 Arena. Throughout his career, he has leaned heavily on spiritual conviction to sustain him through many challenges. Injuries that should have ended his career, opponents who withdrew at crucial moments, and years spent delivering pizzas between training sessions could have broken his resolve. Instead, Cacace turned these difficulties into fuel, viewing each setback as part of a bigger plan. This steadfast conviction in providence has become his greatest asset, a emotional cornerstone that sets him apart from fighters who might have succumbed to despair long ago.

This faith goes past personal resilience into his daily preparation. Working alongside his training staff at Holy Trinity Boxing Club—Michael Hawkins Sr, his son Michael Jr, Ruairi Dalton, and Barry O’Neill—Cacace operates from a sense of true appreciation rather than urgency. He describes his current position as “a dream come true,” a perspective that paradoxically enhances his ability to compete. Athletes operating from abundance rather than scarcity often compete with improved focus and direction. For Cacace, the years of struggle have crystallized into a singular focus: taking this chance to claim his next championship belt before time runs out.

• Cacace attributes faith for supporting him through career setbacks and injuries
• His coaching team offers guidance and support throughout his championship preparation
• Appreciation over desperation defines his mental approach entering the Saturday championship bout

Tradition and Innovation Come Together in Dublin

The 3 Arena in Dublin represents more than just a fighting arena for Anthony Cacace—it stands as the conclusion to a path that has challenged his determination at every turn. Saturday’s showdown against WBA titleholder James ‘Jazza’ Dickens carries profound significance beyond the belt at stake. For a boxer who spent years as an overlooked name in the sport, working through obscurity while delivering pizzas between workouts, this moment signifies validation. The artwork created near his Andersonstown home in Belfast following his IBF title triumph in 2024 functions as a enduring symbol that his supporters kept faith, even when opportunities appeared out of reach.

Cacace’s journey to this championship rematch has been impressively quick since his breakthrough victory over Joe Cordina in Riyadh. Within a year and a half, he has beaten Josh Warrington at Wembley Stadium and Leigh Wood in Nottingham, establishing himself as a legitimate threat at super-featherweight. His record now shows 24 wins with just one defeat, a statistic that fails to capture the quality of his recent performances. At 37, Cacace understands the window for championship glory shrinks with every bout. This Dublin encounter may represent his final opportunity to secure his place permanently into boxing history as a repeat world champion.