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Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib annoyed many a boxing fan early in his career, though much of it was not his own doing. His following is growing by the day, yet there remains a significant number of detractors.
The silky skills came with a sense of arrogance and a plethora of hangers-on. Then there was what some considered an armchair ride to the big time, riding the coattails of Golden Boy Promotions, ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya.
At least, that was the perception from the outside looking in.
I encountered Billy in the lead-up to his fight for the vacant IBF Featherweight World Title against Jorge Lacierva last year. The perception couldn’t be further from the truth.
What I encountered was a down-to-earth and humble young man, who is tremendously respectful and a credit to his family.
I completed some MC work for Billy at a shopping centre appearance promoting the Lacierva fight. Afterward, Billy came up to me, shook my hand, thanked me and then gave me a shirt for my troubles.
He remains the only celebrity to personally thank me after any such event. If only more people knew that Billy Dib.
In days past, Dib was riding in style with Mosley, De La Hoya and other big names fighting on undercards on some of the biggest fights of the year at places like the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Madison Square Garden.
He was moving in the right circles and opportunities arose. An IBO Super-Featherweight Title came as well and Dib had it made, all at the age of 23.
What followed was a fight with Steven Leuvano for the WBO Featherweight Title, in the bright lights of Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The match ended in a crushing defeat, not only on the scorecards, but due to the events which followed the fight.
Dib was panned mercifully by US commentators for being outclassed and in some eyes out-willed by the classy Leuvano.
Leuvano won the fight, yet the margins of 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111 show it was by no means a cakewalk.
Yet following the fight, Dib’s cards were stamped, and he was sent back home labelled “Not good enough.”
Golden Boy Promotions dropped him like a bad habit and Sugar Mosley suddenly stopped coming around for visits.
But Dib kept believing. He didn’t fold when the experts were saying he didn’t have what it took to mix it with the best and that he had had a good run.
Dib talks honestly when questioned about getting ahead of himself in the past, and says that mistakes made then make him more determined to make the most of opportunities now.
“The biggest lesson I have learnt is I was so caught up in the hype before; I was caught up in the hype of being with the superstars and everything like that. Now, I have settled down and realised at the end of the day, no one in the sport of boxing is going to be able to help you unless you help yourself.”
Dib certainly has helped himself.
In early 2009 he aligned himself with Billy Hussein and has not looked back.
He has swapped the superstar mates for a stable of boxers reliant on hard work, dedication and a belief to be the best.
He has swapped the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City for venues such as Sydney’s Croatian Club and Le Montage Events Centre.
He has even had to do it all away from the spotlight and eyes of his fans.
Not one Australian television station was interested in showing his IBF featherweight title shot against Jorge Lacierva, although it was eventually shown a week later on tape delay. The late finish of the fight meant Dib didn’t even grace the following day’s paper.
His following fight and first world title defence against Alberto Servidei was shown live on Fox Sports, and many witnessed Dib destroy his previously undefeated opponent inside the first minute of the fight.
But even this result was met with pessimism.
Most saw Servidei as handpicked, and pointed to his undefeated record that included a victory over the same fighter on six different occasions.
Most said it was Team Dib making the most of the opportunity while they could, knowing eventually their man would be found out against tougher opposition.
A call was put out to WBA Super Featherweight Champion Chris John only for nothing to arise, which did nothing to silence the voices.
Yet on Wednesday night, Dib shares the marquee with another Australian world champion, Daniel Geale, when he defends his IBF Featherweight World Title against challenger, Eduardo Escobedo.
With a record of 32-3, Escobedo is certainly no mug and is coming off an 11-fight winning streak. If Team Dib wanted to hand pick their opponents, then Escobedo would not appear on the list.
He is a dangerous fighter who has an impressive resume. He has knockout power and can find nice angles from the outside.
This fight is the biggest of Dib’s career.
Win and he may finally get the credit he deserves. Lose and those voices will rise again saying “I told you so.”
It’s a shame amid all the mismatches that Australian boxing has thrown up in the past few years that this fight isn’t on the lips of every Australian sports fan.
As a punter, I went looking for the odds on this fight and at Sportingbet, Sportsbet and TAB Sportsbet they were nowhere to be seen.
Is this a sign that the betting agencies aren’t prepared to take the hit, given the expected closeness of the fight, or is it more that they feel given the way Dib polarises opinion that no one would seem to care?
Come Wednesday evening, Billy The Kid has the chance to silence the critics once and for all.
No longer will he be sharing the bill with other fighters, or fighting in local RSL clubs.
He will return to the stage he was told he was never good enough for after losing to Leuvano in 2008.
It’s hard to believe that Dib is still only 26. Anthony Mundine only began his boxing career around the same age.
To see what Mundine has achieved in the time since highlights the possibilities that exist for Billy Dib.
At 26, he is no longer The Kid with all the promise, but a fighter with the skills and desire to show the world he is indeed The Main Man.
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