Dickens Upsets Zelfa Barrett In Manchester

James "Jazza" Dickens kept his career alive at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, outpointing the favoured Mancunian Zelfa Barret. Broadcast live worldwide by DAZN, with Jack Catterall's interim WBO junior welterweight title fight against Arnold Barboza, headlining the event. Barrett, known as the "Brown Flash," entered the fight with a record of 31 wins and 2 losses, while Dickens, a seasoned veteran, boasted 34 wins and 5 losses.

Zelfa Barrett, currently ranked 6th by the IBF and 7th by the WBA at super featherweight, was looking to solidify his position as a potential world title contender. His last fight was a technical knockout victory over Jordan Gill in April 2024. Barrett's career has been marked by impressive performances, including a notable defeat to Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in an IBF title bout. Despite this setback, Barrett remains a formidable opponent with a strong knockout ratio of 55%.

On the other hand, James Dickens has been seeking a return to prominence since his IBF featherweight title loss to Kid Galahad in 2021. Dickens has held the British super bantamweight and IBO 126lb titles and has notable wins over Leigh Wood and Ryan Walsh. His decision to move up to junior lightweight last year resulted in two consecutive knockout victories, setting him up for this high-stakes fight against Barrett. The bout represented a crucial opportunity for Dickens to revive his career and potentially position himself for another title shot.

As the fight unfolded, both boxers demonstrated their experience and determination. The main difference appeared to be Dickens's ability to stay calm and calculating, while Barret began to show signs of desperation later in the fight. Dickens sometimes countered beautifully, sliding away to the sides after landing eye-catching shots. The Liverpudlian clearly deserved the win. The judge's scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94 were refreshingly in line with what happened in the ring.