Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens Predictions: Former title challengers face off in Manchester

Former world title challengers meet on Saturday, February 15 as Zelfa Barrett takes on Jazza Dickens. The bout takes place at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on the undercard of Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr. DAZN will screen the fight live.

Here are my Barrett vs Dickens predictions ahead of this WBA international super featherweight title attraction.

Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens Odds

Barrett feels like the fresher fighter, reflected in his 1/10 price. Dickens is an 11/2 underdog while you can back the draw at 20/1. 

Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens Fight Preview

Both of these men have challenged for world titles in the past and rebuilt their careers following defeats. 

Barrett came up short against Shavkat Rakhmonov for the vacant IBF super featherweight title back in 2022. ‘Brown Flash’ acquitted himself well, knocking ‘Shere Khan’ down in the third round. But the Tajikistani star rallied to finish his man in the ninth stanza.

Dickens contested the vacant IBF featherweight belt a year earlier against Kid Galahad. The Liverpool man put on a brave display, his face flecked with the blood of an intense battle. But Galahad pulled away and the contest became increasingly one-sided until the ref called it off in the 11th round.

With the rare exceptions, men like Rocky Marciano, Floyd Mayweather and Joe Calzaghe, boxing is a game all about rebounding. Chances are you will lose at some point. This sport is as much about how you take those disappointments as it is about the nights of glory. There is a reason the Rocky franchise hung its hat on the old “It ain’t about how hard you hit…” trope.

These two men have done a fine job of parking their disappointments and deservedly earning this big night in Manchester. Each fighter has strung some victories together and now they each look to add a considerable scalp to their mantle.

Barrett hasn’t looked back since the Rakhimov disappointment. The Mancunian went straight in with former world title challenger Jason Sanchez, dominating him on points. Next came a points win over eight against Costin Ion.

The fight that truly propelled Barrett back to the world top 10 was his 10th-round stoppage of Jordan Gill. ‘The Thrill’ was riding high coming off a knockout win over Michael Conlan. But Barrett cut him down to size in a Manchester Arena headliner to fire himself back into plum positions with the WBA and IBF.

Dickens’ has been on the comeback trail. He was beaten in an IBO title challenge against Hector Andres Sosa in July 2023. Since then, Jazza has won two from two. Journeyman Jayro Fernando Duran was knocked out in six rounds. Dickens then finished Eduardo Mancito in seven sessions.

Dickens is a dangerous fighter with some big-time fights on his resume. He has beaten Leigh Wood, who went on to become a two-time world champion. The Scouser also holds victories over Martin Ward and Ryan Walsh. 

The biggest fight of his career came against Guillermo Rigondeaux for the WBA super bantamweight title. The Cuban was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at the time. Dickens gasped in that rarefied air as ‘El Chacal’ picked him apart in two rounds. 

Dickens has always come through the setbacks though and it is a testament to him that he is once more on the cusp of entering the world reckoning. Barrett is quite the opponent to try and do it against, particular in Zelfa’s hometown. But one thing we know about both of these men is that they are warriors who never shirk a challenge. 

Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens Full Card

Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr

Reece Bellotti vs Michael Gomez Jr 

Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens 

Pat McCormack vs Robbie Davies Jr 

William Crolla vs Ayoub Zakari 

Conner Tudsbury vs Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano 

Aqib Fiaz vs Lydon Chircop 

Alfie Middlemiss vs Caine Singh

Zelfa Barrett vs Jazza Dickens Prediction

I think this is Zelfa’s time. He has great momentum off the back of some big recent wins. The Gill triumph felt like the icing on the cake.

With his high rankings and the WBA international bauble on the line, I feel like a victory in front of his hometown crowd could be the thing that propels Barrett to world title contention.

Barrett isn’t a concussive puncher but he can and does stop fighters through accumulation. He’ll get plenty of chances to get Dickens, four KO losses from five defeats, out of there.

I’m picking Barrett by knockout at odds of 6/4.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.