Former IBF champion Cacace opted to relinquish the title he won against Joe Cordina in 2024 in order to travel to take on Leigh Wood in Nottingham last May, winning by ninth-round stoppage.

In between, he out-pointed Josh Warrington in Wembley Stadium as his own fairytale run gathered pace, but a back injury sustained against Wood forced him out of a planned fight with Raymond Ford in Saudi Arabia last August.

Like Dickens, the Belfast man has felt there has been a greater plan for him and the opportunity to become a two-time world champion is one he is not taking for granted.

“It’s mind-blowing and even I don’t believe it at times,” the 36-year-old told BBC Sport NI’s Mark Sidebottom.

“Driving down here today, I was saying to the lads, ‘I’m fighting for my second world title’ when a couple of years ago, nobody wanted to know me. I thank the Lord every day for where he has brought me and I want to go as far as I can.

“I have three kids, was earning nothing from boxing and I was ready to walk away, but I have an addictive personality and it kept bringing me back. I was destined for more and I always knew it, so by the grace of God I got there.”

The size difference between the pair is evident and Cacace, a career super-featherweight will hold the aces in that regard when the opening bell rings in March.

While respectful of the champion, Cacace is determined to seize the opportunity and make a statement in the process.

“He’s a southpaw, a lot smaller than me so it will be a tricky fight,” he continued.

“It may not be all-action but I am ready to push it. You don’t get paid for overtime so I want to be stopping these lads and make proper good fights for the public.”