With that vital street block now cleared, there’s an ‘Andytown Apache’ in his sights as he places the world title on the road for the primary time.
“I am not giving floor and he is not giving floor” is how Dickens views Saturday evening and contemplating how the pair have arrived at this juncture, it’s troublesome to argue with that pre-fight synopsis.
The Merseyside southpaw started as a super-bantamweight and racked up 16 wins earlier than tasting defeat for the primary time, and never the final, to Child Galahad.
That was for a British title in 2013 and though he would win the identical belt three fights later towards Josh Wale, his first foray into world title stage in 2016 proved a painful one, retiring with a damaged jaw within the second spherical towards Guillermo Rigondeaux.
A step as much as featherweight introduced a second world title alternative in 2021 when Galahad once more proved his undoing and, whereas he did declare an IBO title, he would lose it first outing towards Hector Andres Sosa.
Some questioned if he had reached his ceiling, however one other step up has introduced the rewards as, after two wins at super-featherweight, he rolled the cube and prevailed towards Zelfa Barrett earlier than dealing with 2020 Olympic gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev in Istanbul final summer time.
A career-best efficiency noticed him tear up the script with a fourth-round stoppage towards the Russian to enhance to 36 victories with 5 defeats, claiming the ‘interim’ WBA title within the course of which was later upgraded to full honours with Lamont Roach stripped.
All these years campaigning within the decrease divisions noticed him come shut, however it’s within the 9st 4lb (59kg) class the place he has come alive.
“I believe it was 12 years in the past at this time I fought for a British title at super-bantamweight,” he mirrored.
“I noticed the photographs at this time and thought, ‘how was I ever making super-bantamweight?’
“What was even making me need to make that weight? Possibly the considered the larger you’re the higher due to the beginner system, however that is over three rounds.
“I am glad I’ve moved up and had 4 fights on this division, so I am feeling sturdy.”
