South African Diamini To Challenge For Vacant Featherweight Belt

South Africa’s Lerato “Lights Out” Dlamini from Gauteng goes in against James “Jazza” Dickens of Liverpool in a clash for the vacant IBO featherweight belt at the Eventim Olympia in Liverpool on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old Dickens (31-4; 12), who fights from the southpaw stance, is far more experienced than Dlamini (18-1; 10), even though the South African has won the WBC silver, IBF Continental Africa, WBC International and IBF youth featherweight titles.

Dickens will be hoping it is third time lucky, having been in losing challenges for a world title against Guillermo Rigondeux and Kid Galahad (cut eye and broken nose), both for the world junior featherweight belts. His only other losses were in a return with Galahad and Thomas Patrick Ward.

Dickens was a good amateur before he made his pro debut in 2011 and has held the British and English junior featherweight titles.

In August 2021, he was stopped in the 11th round by Kid Galahad in a challenge for the IBF featherweight belt and, on 22 April in his most recent fight, he won on a fifth-round knockout against the 36-year-old Spaniard and former European champion Jelbirt Gomera (14-7-2).

Dlamini is expected to put up stern resistance after winning his last three fights inside the distance.

However, certain scribes favour Dickens to win on points