Dickens: I Know Rigondeaux is a Massive Favorite, I'm Prepared

By Jake Donovan

Even with the benefit of hometown advantage, James "Jazza" Dickens is well aware of the challenge that awaits him. The 24-year old southpaw steps way up in class as he welcomes World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux to his hometown for their March 12 clash at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

Headlining the show is a lightweight title fight between defending champ Terry Flanagan and Liverpool's own Derry Mathews.

The pair of Liverpudlians face uphill battles on the evening, though Dickens appears to have far more difficult task at hand.

"I know that Rigondeaux is massive favorite in this fight," Dickens (21-1, 6KOs) acknowledged during a recent media conference call to discuss the bout, which will air live on BoxNation in the United Kingdom. "I'm well aware of the magnitude of what an upset would mean in the annals of British boxing history. I'm prepared for that challenge."

Dickens has managed five straight wins since the lone loss of his career, a 10th round stoppage at the hands of Kid Galahad in their Sept. '13 bout. His most recent feat was perhaps his best victory to date, a split decision nod over countryman Martin Ward last November in Tyne and Wear, England.

With the win came the expectation for bigger fights in 2016, although even he admits to have been surprised when his shoulder was tapped for this assignment.

"I was in my house when I got the phone call, I was excited," Dickens recalls, though claiming the news was preceded by a hint of optimism. "I believed this opportunity would come up one day."

One day after Dickens posted his split nod over Ward, Rigondeaux (16-0, 10KOs) made his ring appearance following a near 11-month absence. The ring appearance came at the tail end of a frustrating year for the Cuban southpaw, who was stripped of one alphabet title while receiving a downgrade with another organization.

His ring return came at the proverbial snap of a finger, as he accepted a 10-round fight with Drian Francisco on less than two weeks' notice. The fight was placed on the televised undercard of an HBO Pay-Per-View event topped by Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez' middleweight championship winning effort over Migue Cotto. Rigondeaux' fight was received with significantly less praise, taking a landslide 10-round decision in a bout sorely lacking action and entertainment value.

Nearly 11 months prior came a more fan-friendly affair, though one where Rigondeaux was forced to twice climb off the canvas to stop Hisashi Amagasa in their New Year's Eve '14 title fight on the road in Tokyo, Japan.

Given his recent past and at age 35, it raises the question if perhaps there's no time like now for Dickens to pull off what would undoubtedly rank as one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history.

To that, the young challenger remains optimistic of his chances, though not at all factoring Father Time into the equation.

"I can't be hoping he's too old," Dickens admits. "I've got to focus on the job (at hand); he's a great champion."

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox