Billy Dib


Bilal "Billy" Dib is an Australian professional boxer. He held the IBF featherweight title from 2011 to 2013, and the IBO super-featherweight title in 2008.

Early years

Dib was born on 17 August 1985 at Kogarah Hospital in Sydney, 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. He took up boxing at the age of 12 to try to overcome the condition. His parents had emigrated to Australia from Lebanon, and owned a small greengrocer store in Engadine. His brother is politician Jihad Dib.

Amateur career

After starting boxing at the age of 12 at the local Police and Community Youth Club, 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. 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 family's home.
After missing out on the Olympics Dib traveled to Sheffield to train with Prince Naseem Hamed, who encouraged him to turn professional.

Professional career

Dib's first professional fight was against Chad Roy Naidu in August 2004, as an 18-year-old. He won, and subsequently went on to win the next 20 bouts, not losing until October 2008, against Steven Luevano. 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.

IBO super-featherweight title challenge

On 30 July 2008, Billy Dib faced South African Zolani Marali 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, allowing him to capture the title.

WBO featherweight title challenge

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 first loss

On Wednesday, 11 March 2009, at the Campbelltown Cube in Sydney, Dib returned to the ring in a spectacular performance, beating 22-year-old local Campbelltown fighter undefeated 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.
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.

IBF featherweight champion

After nine straight victories, on July 2011 Dib took on longtime contender Jorge Lacierva and captured the IBF Featherweight belt via Unanimous Decision. Occasionally getting involved in some wild exciting exchanges, for the most part he boxed a disciplined fight, out-boxing his smaller opponent.
On 19 November 2011, Billy made the first defense of his title, knocking out Italian challenger Alberto Servidei in 2:38 of the first round from a left hook to the body.
Dib made his second title defense against Eduardo Escobedo on 7 March 2012 in retaining his title with a seventh-round TKO, his aggressive body attack broke down Escobedo who did not come out for round seven.
He lost the title to Evgeny Gradovich on 1 March 2013. A rematch between the two was scheduled for 23 November 2013, when Evgeny Gradovich won by TKO in the 9th round..

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
54Win46–6 Van Thao TranUD1021 Dec 2019Hurstville Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
53Loss45–6 Amir KhanTKO4, 1:0612 Jul 2019King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFor vacant WBC International welterweight title
52Win45–5 Fonluang Sor SingyuKO1, 2:2526 Apr 2019Hurstville Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
51Loss44–5 Tevin FarmerUD123 Aug 2018Technology Park, Sydney, AustraliaFor vacant IBF junior lightweight title
50Win44–4 Rachamongkol Sor PleonchitKO2 31 Dec 2017Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
49Win43–4 Khunkhiri Wor WisaruthUD82 Dec 2017Mediterranean House, Sydney, Australia
48NC42–4 Yardley Armenta CruzNC3, 3:0029 Jul 2017Barclays Center, New York City, New York, USNC after Cruz was cut from an accidental head clash
47Win42–4 Emilio NorfatTKO1, 0:5216 Dec 2016Emporium Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
46Win41–4 Pharanpetch Tor BuamasUD123 Jun 2016Emporium Function Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant IBF Australasian junior lightweight title
45Win40–4 Sukkasem KietyongyuthUD826 Feb 2016Emporium Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
44Loss39–4 Takashi MiuraTKO3, 1:291 May 2015Ōta General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanFor WBC super-featherweight title
43Win39–3 Isaias Santos SampaioTKO2, 1:226 Dec 2014Hurstville Entertainment Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant PABA super-featherweight title
42Win38–3 Ruben ManakaneKO8, 2:5431 Oct 2014Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
41Win37–3 Alberto GarzaUD102 Jul 2014Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
40Loss36–3 Evgeny GradovichTKO9, 1:1024 Nov 2013Cotai Arena, Macau, SARFor IBF featherweight title
39Win36–2 Mike Oliver107 Jul 2013Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, US
38Loss35–2 Evgeny GradovichSD121 Mar 2013MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Ledyard, Connecticut, USLost IBF featherweight title
37Win35–1 Juan Antonio RodríguezUD1013 Jul 2012Orion Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
36Win34–1 Eduardo EscobedoRTD6, 3:007 Mar 2012Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart, AustraliaRetained IBF featherweight title
35Win33–1 Alberto ServideiKO1, 2:3819 Nov 2011Homebush Sports Centre, Sydney, AustraliaRetained IBF featherweight title
34Win32–1 Jorge LaciervaUD1229 Jul 2011State Sports Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant IBF featherweight title
33Win31–1 Ricky SismundoTKO8, 1:5112 Mar 2011WA Italian Club, Perth, Australia
32Win30–1 Mick ShawKO6, 1:468 Dec 2010Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia
31Win29–1 Jack AsisKO4, 2:1815 Sep 2010WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
30Win28–1 Ceferino Dario LabardaTKO6, 0:012 Sep 2010Le Montage, Sydney, Australia
29Win27–1 Wacharakrit SenahanKO1, 1:242 Jun 2010WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, AustraliaWon vacant IBF Pan Pacific featherweight title
28Win26–1 Reynaldo BelandresKO6, 1:408 Apr 2010Le Montage, Sydney, Australia
27Win25–1 Carlos LopezKO6, 1:286 Mar 2010Sharkies Leagues Club, Sydney, Australia
26Win24–1 Roel ManganUD818 Dec 2009Sharkies Leagues Club, Sydney, Australia
25Win23–1 Flash Villacura4, 3:0011 Oct 2009Punchbowl Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia
2422–1 Kenichi YamaguchiNC1, 2:599 Jul 2009Luna Park, Sydney, AustraliaVacant WBO Asia Pacific interim featherweight title at stake;
Originally a TKO win for Dib, later ruled an NC after incorrect referee call
23Win22–1Davey Browne Jr.8 11 Mar 2009Campbelltown Convention Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon IBF Pan Pacific Youth and WBC Youth interim featherweight titles;
Split TD after Browne was cut from an accidental head clash
22Loss21–1Steven LuevanoUD1218 Oct 2008Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBO featherweight title
21Win21–0Zolani MaraliUD1230 Jul 2008Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, AustraliaWon vacant IBO super-featherweight title
20Win20–0Rey Anton OlarteTKO3, 2:3327 Jun 2008Campbelltown Catholic Club, Sydney, Australia
19Win19–0Leon MaratasTKO5, 1:5816 May 2008Orion Function Centre, Sydney, Australia
18Win18–0Edgar Fabian Vargas1022 Mar 2008Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, US
17Win17–0Rogers MtagwaUD810 Nov 2007Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
16Win16–0Jose Alberto GonzalezUD85 May 2007MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
15Win15–0Carlos ContrerasUD1010 Feb 2007Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US
14Win14–0Phillip PayneUD82 Dec 2006St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, US
13Win13–0Feliciano Dario AzuagaTKO5, 1:064 Aug 2006Campbelltown Catholic Club, Sydney, AustraliaRetained IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title
12Win12–0Ruben SantillanosaKO4, 2:3223 Jun 2006Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant IBO Asia Pacific featherweight title
11Win11–0Ariel OmongosTKO1, 2:4717 May 2006Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia
10Win10–0Imad Khamis626 Nov 2005Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, England
9Win9–0Rey MartizanoTKO1, 2:477 Oct 2005Campbelltown Catholic Club, Sydney, Australia
8Win8–0Jesar Ancajas5, 1:3116 Sep 2005Blacktown RSL Club, Sydney, AustraliaRetained IBO Asia Pacific super-featherweight title
7Win7–0Michael KizzaKO2, 2:2924 Aug 2005Entertainment Centre, Sydney, AustraliaRetained IBO Asia Pacific super-featherweight title
6Win6–0Roberto OyanUD1224 Apr 2005State Sports Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant IBO Asia Pacific super-featherweight title
5Win5–0John MinKO2, 1:4010 Dec 2004Hurstville Entertainment Centre, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant Australian super-featherweight title
4Win4–0Rolando Gerongco629 Oct 2004State Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia
3Win3–0Kraisamut HothaisongKO4, 1:228 Oct 2004Panthers World of Entertainment, Penrith, Australia
2Win2–0Binnu Singh3 17 Sep 2004State Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia
1Win1–0Chad Roy Naidu4, 1:3415 Aug 2004State Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia