Jazza Dickens’ first defence of his WBA super-featherweight world title has been called off after opponent Hayato Tsutsumi suffered a facial injury during training. The fight had been scheduled for 27 December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but will now be postponed following the Japanese prospect’s orbital floor fracture—a break in the bone beneath the eye socket.
Dickens’ Championship Status
Liverpool’s Jazza Dickens, 34, was recently upgraded to WBA super-featherweight world champion after Lamont Roach Jr. was stripped of the title. Dickens boasts a career record of 36 wins from 41 professional bouts and has previously competed across three weight classes.
- He won the British Super-Bantamweight title
- Claimed the European Featherweight Championship
- Captured the WBA interim super-featherweight belt by stopping Albert Batyrgaziev in the fourth round in July
Dickens is now one of Britain’s four reigning male boxing world champions, alongside Nick Ball, Lewis Crocker, and Fabio Wardley.
Reaction from Dickens
Dickens shared his disappointment on his YouTube channel, saying:
“This morning, as soon as I opened my eyes and looked at my messages, I got a body shot. That’s what it feels like when you get bad news. Yeah, the fight’s off. Experience teaches you along the way that these things happen, but the worst time is obviously now—world title fight, first defence.”
Despite the setback, Dickens remains focused on maintaining his world champion status and preparing for his next opportunity.
About Hayato Tsutsumi
Tsutsumi, 22, is a rising star in the super-featherweight division with an undefeated record of eight wins. The orbital floor fracture sustained during training will require recovery time, and the exact date of the rescheduled fight has not yet been announced.
What’s Next for Dickens
With his first world title defence postponed, Dickens is expected to continue training and explore alternative bouts to stay active while waiting for Tsutsumi’s recovery. His team is likely to reschedule the fight as soon as the Japanese prospect is medically cleared.
This setback does not affect Dickens’ position in the WBA rankings, and he remains Britain’s top contender in the super-featherweight division.
Leave a Reply