Jazza Dickens wants a world title after winning Golden Contract featherweight final
Liverpool's Jazza Dickens (30-3, 11KOs) defeated Cromer's Ryan Walsh (26-3-2, 12KOs) 97-94, 98-93, 96-94 on points to win the Golden Contract featherweight final, whilst retaining his WBO European featherweight title.
It was a very closely fought contest but southpaw Dickens was just a little cleaner with his shots and more successful than Walsh to record an impressive victory over his domestic rival.
Jazza was in control for the majority of the fight, utilising his jab well and restricting Walsh to short bursts of success. Walsh's superb heart and never say die attitude meant he kept coming forward, but in the end Dickens proved to be too good.
The three judges scored it unanimously to Dickens, meaning he wins the new tournament after previous victories over Leigh Wood and Carlos Ramos.
Dickens said: "I boxed many ways in this tournament with different styles, and I knew it was my chance to show what I can do.
"This was my moment on Sky Sports. I beat Leigh Wood and Ryan Walsh this year and now I want a world title. I'll have my rewards when I get my world title.
"Sorry to those that couldn't be there tonight. I need to thank my coaches George Vaughan and Derry Mathews for everything they have done for me."
Jazza was ranked at WBO #13, while Walsh was further up the standing at #4. With this first successful defence of the WBO strap he stole from Leigh Wood in February, he should get a big boost in the rankings to be able to force a WBO World featherweight title shot with reigning champion Emanuel Navarrette, who only won the belt in October after reigning at super-bantamweight from December 2018.
The Liverpudlian is also ranked highly at #3 with the IBF, which also puts him in line to ace the champion Josh Warrington. Dickens won the IBF European featherweight title in July 2019, shortly before the Golden Contract tournament began. He is still the holder, and only ever owner of that brand-new belt. At #13 in the WBC table, Gary Russell Jr could also be another option for him.
QUICK RESULTS:
JAZZA DICKENS bt LIAM WALSH UD10 (97-94, 98-93, 96-94) – Golden Contract featherweight final / WBO European featherweight title
RICARDS BOLOTNIKS bt SERGE MICHEL TKO10 – Golden Contract light-heavyweight final / WBO European light-heavyweight title
HARLEM EUBANK bt DANIEL EGBUNIKE PTS10 (97-94) – Super-lightweight, 10 rounds
ADAM AZIM bt Ed Harrison PTS6 (60-54) – Lightweight, 6 rounds
JAMES MCGIVERN bt Jordan Ellison PTS6 (60-53) – Lightweight, 6 rounds
FEARGHUS QUINN bt Scott James PTS6 (60-54) – Middleweight, 6 rounds
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