Kid Galahad has moved from one title fight rematch to another.
That’s if James ‘Jazza’ Dickens decides to accept the fight or move in another direction.
A vacant title fight has been ordered by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) between Galahad and Dickens, its top two contenders in the wake of Josh Warrington abandoning the title on Jan. 21. Talks were ordered between camps although a purse bid hearing has already been scheduled to take place on Feb. 4.
Liverpool’s Dickens (30-3, 11KOs) entered the equation by virtue of being the highest rated available contender at the time Warrington (30-0, 7KOs) decided a mandated rematch with Galahad was less valuable than a desired showdown with all-action secondary WBA titlist Xu Can (18-2, 3KOs). From there, the belt became available for countrymen Galahad (27-1, 16KOs) and Dickens to contend.
It is one of several options being considered by the streaking Liverpudlian featherweight.
“I’m so blessed with an amazing team, they have maneuvered me into a fantastic position in the world of boxing,” Dickens told BoxingScene.com. “Right now, we’ve got options.”
Dickens—who is managed by MTK Global—is currently the number-one contender to unbeaten two-division and reigning WBO featherweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete. The 29-year old southpaw reached that point on the strength of a current eight-fight knockout streak, all of which has come since moving up to featherweight in 2018.
All three of Dickens’ career defeats have taken place in the 122-pound division and versus unbeaten opposition. Most notable among the lot was an injury stoppage after two rounds in his July 2016 title bid versus lineal junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Ten months later came a heartbreaking technical decision defeat to unbeaten Thomas Patrick Ward in May 2017, with the British title fight ended on a clash of heads midway through round nine.
Both losses came following a six-fight win streak which came after a 10th round stoppage loss to Galahad back in Sept. 2013 when both were unbeaten 122-pound prospects.
Galahad has since emerged as a featherweight contender. His lone loss came at the hands of Warrington, dropping a disputed 12-round decision in their July 2019 title fight on the road in Leeds, England. The Sheffield native enjoyed a home game for his next—and most recent—fight, an 8th round stoppage of Claudio Marrero last February.
Dickens is coming off of one of his best wins to date, outpointing Ryan Walsh over ten rounds in their MTK Golden Contract featherweight tournament final last December. The southpaw scored points win over Carlos Ramos and Leigh Wood to reach that point before the coronavirus pandemic postponed the series finale.
With the win came a two-year, five-fight contract with MTK which guarantees six-figure paydays for each ring appearance. Needless to say, Dickens’ career has never been in a better place—enough to where a guaranteed title shot is just one of several lucrative and significant options on his plate.
“If this fight goes ahead it’s because I want Galahad,” notes Dickens.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox