<p>It will be his first defence of the title, having won it against Albert Batyrgaziev in July 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.</p><p>Cacace will be a difficult opponent for the Englishman to face, with the Northern Irish fighter enjoying a hugely positive run of form inside the boxing ring.</p><h2>Quick Picks</h2><p><strong>Our pick:</strong> Dickens to win</p><p><strong>Value bet:</strong> Fight to go the distance</p><p><strong>Long shot:</strong> Dickens to win by TKO/KO</p><h2>Tale of the Tape</h2><p>Both southpaws bring contrasting experience levels and physical attributes to this anticipated 12-round clash. As noted, Dickens recently stopped Olympic champ Albert Batyrgaziev in 4 rounds (July 2025) and won by decision against Zelfa Barrett. Cacace has won 5 straight, including TKO9 over Leigh Wood (May 2025) and upsets against Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington.</p><p>Dickens mixes boxing and brawling with good head movement, variety, and a potent long left hook; he's durable in uncomfortable exchanges. Cacace excels at distance control with a precise jab, methodical footwork, counter-punching, and body-head combinations, often slowing fights to punish errors.</p><p>Dickens's figures below are first when comparing the two fighters…</p><ul><li>Age - 34 vs 37</li><li>Height - 5'5" (165cm) vs 5'10" (178cm)</li><li>Stance - Southpaw vs Southpaw</li><li>Record - 36-5-0 vs 24-1-0</li><li>KO Record - 15 vs 9</li></ul><h2>Betting Preview</h2><p>How have they performed in their last five fights?</p><p><strong>Dickens's last five fights:</strong></p><ul><li>Albert Batyrgaziev - Win (TKO, 4) - Jul 2025</li><li>Zelfa Barrett - Win (UD, 10) - Feb 2025</li><li>Eduardo Mancito - Win (TKO, 7) - Sep 2024</li><li>Jayro Duran - Win (TKO, 6) - Jun 2024</li><li>Andres Sosa - Loss (TKO, 10) - Jul 2023</li></ul><p><strong>Cacace's last five fights:</strong></p><ul><li>Leigh Wood - Win (TKO, 9) - May 2025</li><li>Josh Warrington - Win (UD, 12) - Sep 2024</li><li>Joe Cordina - Win (TKO, 8) - May 2024</li><li>Damian Wrzesiński - Win (UD, 12) - May 2023</li><li>Michael Magnesi - Win (SD, 12) - Sep 2022</li></ul><h2>Betting Markets to Watch</h2><p>It's possible to argue that <strong>Dickens has been undervalued in this matchup</strong>, with the odds suggesting he is a much bigger underdog than his form would suggest. He has 262 pro rounds under his belt, which is 89 more than Cacace, and a 42% KO rate, including recent KOs (Batyrgaziev) and an upset history (underdog against Barrett). If you're new to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-boxing">betting on boxing</a>, understanding how to spot value in the odds is crucial.</p><p>With this in mind, the odds significantly undervalue him against Cacace's 38% KO rate and 9-month layoff.</p><p>A <strong>decision is likely required to determine the winner of this WBA title fight</strong>, with both men durable and having low KO rates in recent wins. While some fights end early with <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/fastest-knockouts-boxing-history">the quickest boxing knockouts</a> in history, this contest looks set to go the distance.</p><h2>Our Prediction</h2><p>Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/boxing/grade-a-fights/james-dickens-v-anthony-cacace-10009455">Dickens vs Cacace betting odds</a> at Sportsbet.</p><p>We think <strong>there's value in Dickens to retain his title</strong>, despite being the perceived underdog in the odds. We think the <strong>value bet is for a decision win</strong>, while our <strong>long shot is for Dickens to record a KO</strong>. For more <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/predictions">boxing tips and predictions</a>, check out our full coverage.</p><h2>Keep Reading</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/boxing">All the latest boxing odds and markets</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/boxing-weight-classes-guide">From flyweight to heavyweight — every division explained</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/why-boxers-hug-clinching-during-fights">The art of the clinch and why fighters do it</a></li></ul>