With that significant road block now cleared, there is an ‘Andytown Apache’ in his sights as he puts the world title on the line for the first time.
“I’m not giving ground and he isn’t giving ground” is how Dickens views Saturday night and considering how the pair have arrived at this juncture, it is difficult to argue with that pre-fight synopsis.
The Merseyside southpaw began as a super-bantamweight and racked up 16 wins before tasting defeat for the first time, and not the last, to Kid Galahad.
That was for a British title in 2013 and although he would win the same belt three fights later against Josh Wale, his first foray into world title level in 2016 proved a painful one, retiring with a broken jaw in the second round against Guillermo Rigondeaux.
A step up to featherweight brought a second world title opportunity in 2021 when Galahad again proved his undoing and, while he did claim an IBO title, he would lose it first time out against Hector Andres Sosa.
Some wondered if he had reached his ceiling, but another step up has brought the rewards as, after two wins at super-featherweight, he rolled the dice and prevailed against Zelfa Barrett before facing 2020 Olympic gold medallist Albert Batyrgaziev in Istanbul last summer.
A career-best performance saw him tear up the script with a fourth-round stoppage against the Russian to improve to 36 victories with five defeats, claiming the ‘interim’ WBA title in the process which was later upgraded to full honours with Lamont Roach stripped.
All those years campaigning in the lower divisions saw him come close, but it is in the 9st 4lb (59kg) class where he has come alive.
“I think it was 12 years ago today I fought for a British title at super-bantamweight,” he reflected.
“I saw the pictures today and thought, ‘how was I ever making super-bantamweight?’
“What was even making me want to make that weight? Maybe the thought of the bigger you are the better because of the amateur system, but that’s over three rounds.
“I’m glad I’ve moved up and had four fights in this division, so I’m feeling strong.”
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