Billy Dib
Encyclopedia
Billy "The Kid" Dib is an Australian professional boxer. He is the current IBF Featherweight Champion. He is the former IBO super featherweight champion.
, Australia
. He has suffered from chronic asthma
since birth, and he spent the first six months of his life in an incubator fighting the ailment, taking up boxing at the age of 12 in order to try to overcome the condition. His parents had emigrated to Australia from Lebanon
, and owned a small greengrocer
store in Engadine
.
(PCYC), he soon began appearing in amateur competitions, winning 98 out of 133 bouts. During this period he was the Australian Champion on three occasions, and he was selected to train at the Australian Institute of Sport
(AIS). However, his preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games was hindered by a motorcycle accident, and he was not selected for the Australian team. He subsequently turned down an offer to join Lebanon's
Olympic team, arguing that he had been representing Australia and wouldn't feel right if drawn against an Australian in the tournament as Australia was his, and his families home.
After missing out on the Olympics Dib traveled to Sheffield
to train with Prince Naseem Hamed, who encouraged him to turn professional.
. Dib traveled to the United States
in 2006, after being offered the opportunity to train with Mike Tyson
. While there he met Shane Mosley
, and this led to Dib signing with Golden Boy Promotions
.
for the IBO super featherweight title. Although Marali had a greater reach, and despite being knocked down in the third round, Dib was able to win on a unanimous points decision (116-114, 116-112 and 114-113), allowing him to capture the title.
, Dib returned to the ring in a spectacular performance, beating 22 year old local Campbelltown fighter Davey Browne Jnr via an 8th round technical decision after Browne was cut above both eyes.
The first cut opened after an accidental head clash, while the second came from a clean punch. The fight was stopped on the first cut and went to the scorecards.
Questions regarding the decision were raised after the fight, with some expressing the belief that the punch constituted a foul, and thus Yamaguchi should either have been given time to recover, the fight declared a no-contest, or Dib should have been disqualified.
Subsequently, the NSW Boxing Authority announced that they are undertaking an investigation into the events, and at their monthly board meeting on 4 August, the officials determined to change the result to a no-contest.
On 19 November 2011, Billy knocked out the Italian challenger Alberto Servidei in 2:38 of their first round via a left hook to the body, to defend his IBF featherweight title.
Early years
Bilal Dib was born on 17 August 1985 at Kogarah Hospital in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He has suffered from chronic asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
since birth, and he spent the first six months of his life in an incubator fighting the ailment, taking up boxing at the age of 12 in order to try to overcome the condition. His parents had emigrated to Australia from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, and owned a small greengrocer
Greengrocer
A greengrocer or fruiterer is a retail trader in fruit and vegetables; that is, in green groceries. Greengrocer is primarily a British and Australian term, and greengrocers' shops were once common in suburbs, towns and villages...
store in Engadine
Engadine, New South Wales
Engadine is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Engadine is located south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire...
.
Amateur career
After starting boxing at the age of 12 at the local Police and Community Youth ClubPolice and Community Youth Club
Police and Community Youth Clubs originated in Sydney, Australia on 1 April 1937. They were originally known as the "Police Rotary Youth Club", and later, "Police Boy's Clubs"...
(PCYC), he soon began appearing in amateur competitions, winning 98 out of 133 bouts. During this period he was the Australian Champion on three occasions, and he was selected to train at the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
(AIS). However, his preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games was hindered by a motorcycle accident, and he was not selected for the Australian team. He subsequently turned down an offer to join Lebanon's
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Olympic team, arguing that he had been representing Australia and wouldn't feel right if drawn against an Australian in the tournament as Australia was his, and his families home.
After missing out on the Olympics Dib traveled to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to train with Prince Naseem Hamed, who encouraged him to turn professional.
Professional career
Billy Dib's first profession fight was against Chad Roy Naidu in August 2004, when he was 18 years old. He won, and subsequently went on to win the next 20 bouts, not losing until October 2008, against Steven LuevanoSteven Luevano
Steven Luevano was a Mexican-American boxer in the Featherweight division and is the former WBO Featherweight Champion. He was trained by the former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Roberto Garcia....
. Dib traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2006, after being offered the opportunity to train with Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
. While there he met Shane Mosley
Shane Mosley
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is an American professional boxer from Pomona, California who has held world titles in three weight divisions.-Amateur career:Mosley was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:...
, and this led to Dib signing with Golden Boy Promotions
Golden Boy Promotions
Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. is a combat sport promotional firm started by former boxer six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya...
.
IBO Super Featherweight Title
On 30 July 2008, Billy Dib faced South African Zolani MaraliZolani Marali
Zolani Marali is a South African lightweight boxer . He was born in Eastern Cape, South Africa. In April 2009, he won the International Boxing Organization superfeatherweight boxing title after defeating Gamaliel Diaz...
for the IBO super featherweight title. Although Marali had a greater reach, and despite being knocked down in the third round, Dib was able to win on a unanimous points decision (116-114, 116-112 and 114-113), allowing him to capture the title.
WBO Featherweight Title
Billy Dib fought against Steven Luevano, the WBO featherweight champion, on 18 October 2008. He was unsuccessful, losing to Luevano in a unanimous points decision. After the match Dib announced that he would come back as a better boxer, stating that he would learn from the experience.Return after his first loss
On Wednesday, 11 March 2009, at the Campbelltown Cube in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Dib returned to the ring in a spectacular performance, beating 22 year old local Campbelltown fighter Davey Browne Jnr via an 8th round technical decision after Browne was cut above both eyes.
The first cut opened after an accidental head clash, while the second came from a clean punch. The fight was stopped on the first cut and went to the scorecards.
Superboxer
On 9 July 2009, Billy Dib and Kenichi Yamaguchi were the main event on One HD's first Superboxer promotion. After being knocked down during the opening stages of the first round, Dib rallied late in the piece to down Yamaguchi. While Yamaguchi was on his knees, Dib hit him with a late left-handed punch, and although Yamaguchi returned to his feet, he appeared unsteady, leading the referee to stop the fight at 2:59 seconds of the first round in Dib's favour. As Yamaguchi protested the call to the referee Dib without reason shoved Yamaguchi as well as his trainer sparking a small brawl between the two corners.Questions regarding the decision were raised after the fight, with some expressing the belief that the punch constituted a foul, and thus Yamaguchi should either have been given time to recover, the fight declared a no-contest, or Dib should have been disqualified.
Subsequently, the NSW Boxing Authority announced that they are undertaking an investigation into the events, and at their monthly board meeting on 4 August, the officials determined to change the result to a no-contest.
On 19 November 2011, Billy knocked out the Italian challenger Alberto Servidei in 2:38 of their first round via a left hook to the body, to defend his IBF featherweight title.