Australian boxer Billy 'the kid' Dib out to win world super-featherweight crown

Australian boxer Billy 'the kid' Dib is aiming to heal old wounds and prove there's no Australian 'curse' when he takes on Japan’s Takashi Miura to fight for the world super-featherweight crown.

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Billy 'the kid' Dib (left). (SBS)

Billy "the kid" Dib wants this title really badly.

He takes on Japan’s Takashi Miura on May 1 to fight for the WBC world super-featherweight crown.

The title eluded Jeff Fenech in his bouts with Azumah Nelson, and Lionel Rose failed to capture it in 1971.

Dib is now aiming to heal past wounds and he's out to prove there is no Australian curse.

"We have had some history with this title - nothing that people actually want to remember - but hopefully on May 1st I’m going to flip that around," he said. "I’m going to bring the world title back home to Australia, and we’re all going to enjoy it together." 

Dib is proud of his Lebanese and Palestinian heritage, and vocal about his love for Australia.
"We have had some history with this title, nothing that people actually want to remember, but hopefully on May 1st I’m going to flip that around."
At age 13, he wrote on his bedroom wall that he would be a boxing world champion. He's done that in two different classes, and worn his heart on his sleeve all along.

As a teenager he turned down a chance to box for Lebanon at the Olympics because he couldn’t comprehend facing another Australian.

He's faced "demons" since losing the IBF featherweight title to Russian punching-machine Evgeny Gradovich, who is responsible for two of his three professional losses.

But he says, "Your mentality is your reality," and he’s very confident of silencing the home crowd at the Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo.

'Very tough fights against punchers and fighters'

Daniel Geale is making his own way back to the top, and there’s no easy road to get there.

He takes on Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto for the WBC World middleweight title in New York on June 6.

Having always fought for his family, Geale has a new inspiration; three-week-old Harper is his fourth child.

Like Dib, he feels very confident about the challenge ahead, and intends to make Australia proud.

"There are some huge fights coming up, and I wish Billy all the best, he's a good friend of mine, and we've both got very tough fights against punchers and fighters that are going to come forward, and try and knock our heads off, so we’re going to have to use our skills and bring these titles home."


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2 min read

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By Bence Hamerli


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