Australian boxer Billy Dib's chase of another world title run has ended in a third round knockout at the hands of Japanese champion Takashi Miura.
WBC super-featherweight champion Miura rebounded from what looked to be a sluggish first two rounds to drop Dib in the third.
With Dib backed up in the corner, Miura unleashed a wicked, rising left hook to the jaw of the Australian, before yet another left hook sent the staggering Aussie down, the referee stopping the fight immediately.
Dib's brother and manager Emaid revealed his sibling had entered the bout hindered by a broken hand and fractured ribs.
"They happened in Australia during the training camp and Billy was just basically nursing them," Emaid Dib told AAP.
"I don't want in any way to make any excuses, those things had nothing to do with the result."
He said his brother was leading on the judges cards after two rounds, and was boxing to the game plan until he made a mistake.
"Billy made a split second-mistake and he got caught," Emaid Dib said.
"He (Miura) stayed patient like a true champion and landed the shot.
"We said to Billy `you can't be a sitting duck, you've got to constantly be moving, don't give this guy a target and keep the chin down'.
"The chin was up and he was stationary, so he was there to be hit and (Miura) really hit him well."
Dib's record drops to 39-4, 23 KOs, while Miura improves to 29-2, 22 KOs.
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