Dib secures IBF title shot

By Craig Watt
Photos: Team Dib

Australian featherweight Billy “The Kid” Dib (31-1, 19 KOs) will match up with Jorge Lacierva (39-7-6, 26 KOs) for the vacant IBF 126 pound title on July 29th in Sydney, Australia. This bout was announced in Sydney today pitching the experienced 32 year old Mexican Lacierva, who is ranked IBF#2 at featherweight with the 25 year old Dibb who occupies the IBF#3 slot. The fight will be held at the State Sports Centre which is part of the impressive Olympic Centre at Homebush in Sydney that was used for the 2000 Olympics in Australia.

Dibb, a former IBO super-featherweight champion is on a winning streak of eleven fights since he lost a unanimous decision to WBO champion Steve Lueveno in October 2008. He spoke to Fightnews today from his Sydney base. He stated, “I am delighted we can finally announce this fight and I have a chance to secure one of the major world title belts at 126 pounds. I have learned so much since my loss to Lueveno for the WBO title and with new trainer Billy Hussein at the helm we are ready to prove to the boxing world that we can secure a recognised world title. I have never looked back since that defeat and with eleven wins on the bounce I have great confidence that I can bring another world title back to Australia. To have the fight in my own city of Sydney is fantastic and to be in the Olympic Centre will provide great motivation and great reward to all my fans.”

He continued, “I am not under estimating Jorge Lacierva who has won his last seven since his points loss to Celestino Caballero for the WBA title in August 2008 and he is a very tough opponent, but when you fight for an IBF world title you expect this level of skill and expertise. His style is tough and rugged and has only lost two fights since 2003. He is a world class featherweight and by defeating him we can stand tall in the 126 pound division.”

Mexican Lacierva does hold an impressive record with his only other loss to Cruz Carbajal in 2005 and is 13-1-1 since that fight in California, USA . He comes off an impressive unanimous decision to Fernando Beltran Jr in April over twelve rounds in an IBF Eliminator bout at featherweight in Baja California in Mexico. He boxed impressively in this bout and won a clear decision 119-109 (twice) and 118-109.

Since his loss to Lueveno in 2008, Dibb has secured nine stoppage victories in his eleven wins and has looked impressive. Noted as a stylish boxer, Dibb has added power under the guidance of well respected trainer Billy Hussein and caught the eye of the boxing fans in Australia.

The fight in Sydney on July 29th comes just a week after the Danny Green V Antonio Tarver fight for the IBO Cruiserweight Title in the City and represents an exciting time for Australian boxing with the upcoming return on home soil of Michael Katsidis and the recent IBF Middleweight victory for Daniel Geale providing some excitement in the sport “Down Under”.

June 7th, 2011

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