By Elliot Foster
JAZZA DICKENS has confirmed the next move in his career after being out of the ring since May.
The former British super-bantamweight champion lost his crown via a technical decision against Tommy Ward at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Dickens, 26, has a ledger of 22-3 with seven early and will look to return in 2018 after an up-and-down few months.
He left Paul Stevenson and the Everton Red Triangle shortly after being beaten by Ward and has since been travelling the world, including having a spell out in Miami, in a bid to find a new setup which was suitable for him and the next chapter of his career.
But Dickens, it seems, has now settled on where he is going next after revealing that he will continue to train in Liverpool –– but it will be at Derry Mathews’ city centre base, alongside the likes of Sam Maxwell, Craig Glover and former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price, among others.
“I’m delighted to announce that I’ll now be training at MTK Liverpool,” Dickens, who is promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions and managed by MTK Global, said on Monday. “I’m excited to start this journey with Derry, George [Vaughan] and Joe [McNally], as well as the boxers.”
Former world title challenger Dickens, like Mathews, wore a Salisbury ABC vest in the unpaid ranks and even made his bow in the paid code on the undercard of one of ‘Dirty’ Derry’s 52 pro outings.
“We were both ABA champions and England representatives before turning pro at 19 to then become British champions,” he added.
“I’ve always admired the heart he showed as a fighter during his career and now to have Derry as a coach is something I will enjoy.
“We’ve teamed up for a successful 2018 and the first goal is to win back the Lonsdale belt.”
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