Anthony Cacace is considering hanging up the gloves following Saturday’s title challenge against James “Jazza” Dickens in Dublin.
Belfast’s Cacace will attempt to claim Dickens' WBA junior lightweight strap at 3Arena. The win would secure Cacace a second world title at 130lb after the Northern Irishman previously held the IBF strap following victory over Joe Cordina in 2024. There were doubts about whether Cacace could achieve world honors after he slipped to defeat against Martin J Ward back in 2017.
The defeat seemed to change something in Cacace, who has admitted he cut corners in the past. He has enjoyed success later in his career, with his three most notable and lucrative wins coming in his previous bouts. Victory over Cordina was followed by dominant displays against former two-time titleholders Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood – though Cacace would lose his IBF belt by choosing to face Wood in 2025 over his then-mandatory challenger Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez.
Now, the 37-year-old Cacace will be looking to add the WBA strap to his mantle back home in Dublin, and if all goes to plan, he sees it as the perfect way to bow out of the sport.
“Listen, all being well, please God, I would be happy to hang them up – and that's the truth,” Cacace told BoxingScene. “This was a childhood dream and this is beyond a childhood dream at this point. So I'm just enjoying where I'm at. I know I'm in a dangerous fight and I've got a dangerous opponent. I'm just really enjoying myself, to be honest with you.
“I couldn't ask for a better place to do it. I've sold a lot of tickets, and a lot of people will be coming down the road to watch me. So I'm just super-grateful. I'm super-happy. I think the last time I fought in Ireland was 11 years ago. So it's a bit different. But, I mean, it's enjoyable.”
It was on the undercard of former junior featherweight titleholder Carl Frampton’s defense of his IBF belt against Chris Avalos at Belfast’s SSE Arena back in 2015 when Cacace last fought in his native country. A lot has happened since then, and now Cacace will travel to Dublin as one of the best fighters in the division and rub shoulders with those he used to idolize.
“It's been mental, honestly. It's things that dreams are made of,” said Cacace. “I'm actually standing next to Carl Frampton right now. Like, to be mentioned and named with names like that, that's kind of what it's all about.”
There had been reports that the winner of Saturday’s bout could be set to defend the WBA 130lb title against promotional stablemate Ryan Garner. Southampton’s Garner, who will also be competing against Cristian Bielma on the undercard, has played down talk during fight-week proceedings.
“I don't like to talk about who's next. I could lose a fight tomorrow and I'm very real about things,” Cacace said of the rumors. “I'm not delusional. So, I mean, if he is next, he's next. I don't really give a shit who'd be next for me or Jazza.”
Cacace may have his eyes firmly locked on his opponent this Saturday, but Dickens has not always been in Cacace’s line of sight.
“I never thought that he was a potential opponent,” he said. “He's a world champion, obviously, and that's who I've got on my radar – the big names. So it's unfortunate that it's him, but on Saturday night I'm going to do my utmost to take this belt back up to Belfast.”
Tom Ivers is a lifelong fight fan and former amateur boxer who has a master’s degree in sports journalism. Tom joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.
