Featherweight contender James ‘Jazza’ Dickens 30-3 (11) will get his long-awaited chance to avenge his first professional defeat when he takes on Kid Galahad 27-1 (16) for the vacant IBF title at Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex in the UK on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old Liverpool southpaw says he has improved as a boxer since his 10th round stoppage loss eight years ago.
“I am a different fighter and a different man altogether to that fight in 2013,” Dickens said to the Liverpool Echo. “But when I compare how different I am I also have to compare how different he is going to be. I know how far I’ve come since then – but I can only expect the same from him because he’s a great fighter.
“He’s done well staying in the game and getting back to the pinnacle. But we’re both different – I know I am. I’d be surprised if I wasn’t because it’s been a long time.”
Dickens has fought 16 times since his first meeting with Galahad with his only defeats coming against the then-undefeated duo of Guillermo Rigondeaux and Thomas Patrick Ward in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
In his last four fights he has picked up his level of opposition significantly, outpointing Nathaniel May, Carlos Ramos, Leigh Wood and Ryan Walsh in successive fights. Last weekend Wood lifted the WBA ‘regular’ 126-pound title from the highly regarded Xu Can.
Dickens is rapt to be facing his old foe Galahad for the vacant IBF strap.
“I can’t explain how I feel about that fight without sounding like I’m possessed!” he said of their first encounter.
“Actually it’s been the same all through my career. I even still think now about a kid who beat me when I was a schoolboy. I just can’t let it go, I will not let it go.
“I haven’t followed Kid Galahad’s career but when he got banned a few years ago there was a bit of anxiety in me because I wondered if I’d ever get that rematch chance to put that right.
“I’m in there now but I just need to get over the line.
“It’s nice to be in a world title fight – but the day after the fight holding the world title belt is where I want to be.”
Trainer George Vaughan has seen Dickens’ improvements firsthand and believes he now has the skills and maturity to become a world champion.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for Jazza and I think we’re going to see the best version of him,” Vaughan said.
“This is a lad who’s made necessary changes to his team. He’s took himself away to America to get advice there. He’s done what he feels is absolutely right to become a world champion and he’s so close to realising that dream.
“This is a hard fight but it’s a fight Jazza can win because of the improvements he’s made and also because he learns from past experiences. A defeat is not a bad thing if you take as much as possible from it and make sure the same things don’t happen again.
“I had to do that as a fighter on more than one occasion and I know someone as determined and as dedicated as Jazza is capable of doing it as well. He’s looked superb in his recent fights and I think he’s at his very best now.
“Through experience and the age he’s at, I think we’re looking at a great version of Jazza Dickens.”
