Undefeated Jacob Dickson may not be the most popular boxer on Ghana’s domestic competitive scene but has quietly landed an opportunity to annex the WBO Global Cruiserweight title as he faces Cuba’s Lenar Perez in France this weekend.
Dickson, who is a product of Accra’s Bronx Boxing Club founded by trainer Lawrence Carl Lokko, will have the shining example of former IBF champion, Richard Commey, as immediate inspiration as the latter traces his roots to the gym and the trainer.
Known as ‘The Beast’ in the ring he is currently rated best cruiserweight in Ghana – an accolade he has enjoyed since the annexation of the vacant national title late in 2021 and has this opportunity as a big leap into the relevant spaces in the division globally.
The youngster will rest on the experience of his trainer to effectively guide from the corner in what obviously will be a rough but to navigate. “The short timing and the fact that my boxer is travelling for the first time is seen by some as a negative but we are focused and in high spirits and ready to deliver a good performance, Coach Carl Lokko told Joy Sports.
“I have told him to apply a lot of self-motivation because I know he can do it.”
Going 10 knockouts in as many bouts is a conspicuous warning sign to any opponent that Perez can be a lethal puncher. In this case the warning signals are being flashed as Dickson has taken all his tests in the ring at home in Ghana. Dickson’s similarly fledgling career has also only seen homegrown opposition so far. This makes it a must for the Bronx Gym product to dig deep to churn out a first-class performance to overcome Lopez.
The 24-year-old boxer based in Russia has had most of his bouts in the Soviet nation with two of them in Uzbekistan.
France as a destination brings fond memories from a Ghanaian perspective as the legendary Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey caused an upset by knocking out the then-WBA welterweight champion Crisanto Espana. That feat made him Ghana’s third boxing world champion after David Kotei (D.K. Poison) and Azumah Nelson.
Dickson has won all eight professional fights and this obvious personal high point will also define his ability to psyche before new crowds, adapt to a new destination and overpower an opponent who possesses punch power.
He left Ghana for Deauville, France in the company of his trainer Carl Lokko earlier today.