Q&A Billy Dib

By Ray Wheatley–World of Boxing
Photo: Peter McDermont

IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib talks to Fightnews and says that Mexican Jorge Lacierva is one of his toughest opponents and thinks that his November 18 defense against Alberto Servedei will be another hard fight, but the Italian’s southpaw stance will not be a problem. Also WBA champions Chris John and Yukoris Gamboa are on his radar, but he plans to be world champion for a long time.

You scored the best win of your career to defeat Mexico’s Jorge Lacierva to capture the IBF 126 pound title in July. Give me your thoughts on the fight, and was Lacierva your toughest opponent?

I knew that Jorge Lacierva was going to be a tough opponent and that the fight would be a good battle, but my trainer Billy Hussein came up with the perfect game plan to nullify anything that Lacierva could bring and all I had to do was execute it. He’s definitely among the toughest opponents I’ve fought.

You are scheduled to make your first defense on November 18 against Alberto Servidei of Italy who has an impressive record and is a southpaw. Have you boxed many southpaws and will that be a problem?

Servidei is another good fighter. I have boxed 12 southpaws over the span of my professional career so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially considering the great sparring partners lined up by my trainer Billy Hussein.

WBA champion Chris John has been mentioned as a future opponent. Is he on your radar?

Chris John is definitely a fighter on my radar. We are both champions in the featherweight division so my team and I are hoping to have a unification bout with him in the near future.

Yuriokis Gamboa also holds a WBA title and is regarded by many experts as the best featherweight in the world. Are you interested in unifying the championship?

Gamboa is a great fighter and I believe that a fight between us will be nothing short of explosive.

Former WBO 126 champion Juan Manuel Lopez was upset in 2011 by Orlando Salido. Would you be interested in a bout with Lopez?

I’ve worked hard to be in the position that I am in, and as a professional boxer you always want to fight the best in the division in order to cement your legacy.

You were ringside to see Floyd Mayweather stop Victor Ortiz in four rounds. Both Mayweather and Ortiz are good friends. What are your thoughts on the controversial ending?

I believe that it was a good fight while it lasted ,but Floyd Mayweather was just too classy for Victor Ortiz on the night.

Please tell what is your plan is for 2012. How many fights will Billy Dib be champion for?

I plan on finishing off this year on a high note by successfully defending my title against Servidei and my team and I will assess the possible fights for 2012. I will reign as a champion for a very long time as I have worked much too hard for me to lose my title.

October 3rd, 2011

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