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Billy Dib’s trainer says his charge may have to dig deep to counter an anticipated early onslaught from Mexican Jorge Lacierva in Friday’s fight for the vacant IBF featherweight boxing title.
A professional for almost 17 years, Lacierva (39-7-6, 26 KOs) craves a legitimate world title after unsuccessful challenges for the IBF super flyweight and WBA super bantamweight belts.
He weighed in just inside the 57.15kg limit at 57.1, while Dib scaled 57.0.
Dib (31-1, 19 KOS), briefly held the IBO featherweight crown in 2008, but was outpointed by the then IBF world champion Steven Luevano in the same year.
He said he was a much more professional fighter now and had been through the most intense preparation of his career.
The 25-year-old Australian, who will hold height and reach advantages in the Sydney Olympic Sports Centre bout, hasn’t lost another fight.
Lacierva is a significantly better credentialled adversary than any of his other post-Luevano opponents.
“This is a different kettle of fish now, he’s swimming with sharks right now, no more little fish and tadpoles, he’s in the big pool,” Dib’s trainer Billy Hussein told AAP.
‘I’ve seen Lacierva fight a lot … he’s always been a good fighter.
“I’m confident Billy will pull a victory, but we’ve got to be at our best to beat Jorge Lacierva and I’m very very confident we’re going to do that.
“He’s a hard strong guy, he’s a veteran, he will come out guns blazing.
“I know for a fact he will come out and try and knock Billy out and Billy could get caught in the first two or three rounds and he might get hurt, but he’s got to dig deep.”
Dib thought Lacierva might employ illegal tactics after saying he had seen the Mexican, kick, elbow and headbutt in tapes of his previous fights.
Lacierva 33, was grateful for the chance to fight for another title.
“I came here to give everything, like every Mexican, we’ve got pride and I hope I don’t disappoint anyone,” Lacierva said.
After being associated with established stars like Naseem Hamed and Shane Mosley early in his career, Dib is now very much his own man, according to Hussein.
“He was starstruck at the start … I’m proud of him he’s really matured,” Hussein said.
Dib’s ascension to the verge of a major world title is no surprise to Australia’s three-division world champion, Jeff Fenech.
“I always thought Billy Dib had the potential talent to be a world champion,” Fenech said.
“I don’t think there’s a better talent in Australian boxing than Billy Dib.”
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