Dickens: I Want To Bring Boxing To Hill Dickinson Stadium

Evertonian and world-champion boxer Jazza Dickens has revealed his aims to help bring the first-ever boxing event to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Dickens – the WBA super-featherweight world champion – made his maiden visit to the Blues’ new world-class home for the FA Cup visit of Sunderland on Saturday, appearing on the Dockside Live pre-match show, before walking out onto the pitch at a half-time with his cherished strap.

The Liverpool-born southpaw was crowned with the 130-pound belt in December, promoted to world champion after American contender Lamont Roach Jr. was stripped of the title after choosing to vacate the division.

Dickens had already captured the interim title in his previous outing when he triumphed as the underdog in a fourth-round stoppage victory in Istanbul over Olympic gold-medallist Albert Batrygaziev.

“It was a very proud moment,” Dickens told evertonfc.com on becoming world champion. “I’m one of only a few Scousers to do it – and one of the few Evertonians to do it.

“It’s an amazing achievement for me, my family, friends and everyone who has helped me along the way.

“It’s been a long journey but I’ve had a lot of help, so it was nice win it for – not just me – but for us all.”

By fulfilling a childhood dream, he becomes just one of five current male British world champions in the sport – a list which also includes heavyweight Fabio Wardley, fellow-Scouser Nick Ball, welterweight champ Lewis Crocker, as well as new 140-pound title-holder Dalton Smith.

Another tough test follows for the 34-year-old Dickens, whose record stands as 36 victories and five defeats from 41 bouts. He takes on former world champion Anthony Cacace in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day weekend.

Irishman Cacace – nicknamed ‘The Apache’ – hasn’t lost since 2017, and although Dickens is fully focused on the upcoming contest, he admits he’d love to eventually land a boxing event at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It doesn’t get much bigger than that,” Dickens remarked on his next challenge. “A St Paddy’s Day fight against a Paddy. It’s amazing. And in Dublin, they’re like us Scousers.

“It’s sort of a homecoming because I was there for a few years. It would be nice – one day – to bring boxing to Hill Dickinson Stadium – but I’m really excited for the Dublin fight.”

Preparations for March’s fight begin soon, says Dickens, who continued: “I’ll be doing an eight-week camp, so we’re nearing that now.

“I’ve got a few more days to stay in shape and to keep my weight down before I go into camp.”

Back in 2022, Dickens presented his IBO featherweight championship to the Evertonian support at Goodison Park.

Saturday saw him greeted with a warm reception at Hill Dickinson Stadium – a maiden trip for the delighted Dickens.

“This is my first time being here,” he said. “I’ve been travelling the world, training and I’ve had a busy past few years.

“So yeah, it’s my first time even being in the ground. I jog past the place a lot of the time, but I'd never actually been in.

“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see what they’ve done with the place.”