Billy Dib is on the way back to reclaiming his IBF featherweight crown but it looks unlikely that he will be taking on fellow Aussie Will Tomlinson anytime soon.
On July 6 Dib outpointed American Mike Oliver in the United States, earning a 96-92, 96-92, 94-94 majority decision.
In a scrappy but tough fight, Dib proved too classy for the former IBO super bantamweight champion.
This is was an important win for ‘The Kid’. His last two fights in the States had been disastrous – an unexpected defeat to underdog Evgeny Gradovich in March this year, where he lost his IBF world title, and a deflating loss to Steve Luevano back in Atlantic City in 2008 for the WBO crown.
This was a fight Dib could not afford to lose. And with the pressure on, in front a hostile crowd supporting his local opponent, Dib delivered.
It wasn’t one for the highlight reels but the Sydneysider got the job done.
Dib bounced back from a slow start and was penalised in the second and third rounds for low blows, losing a point each time.
He was warned by the referee that he would be disqualified if there was another low blow.
Watching the fight and trying not to be too cynical, it is tough to see how much Oliver was really affected by the low shots, and how much he was acting.
He did seem to recover remarkably fast from the one in the second round. The one in the third round looked worse, but the camera angle made it hard to judge.
Regardless, Dib changed his strategy, working the American’s head and directing pressure off his jab, and got the decision.
He outworked his smaller and older foe, forcing him onto the ropes and on the back foot.
He used his size and strength to eventually break the tricky southpaw down. It was a gutsy victory considering one mis-timed punch and it was all over.
With this crucial win secured, and a seemingly small red, white and blue monkey off his back, Dib will now face the winner of Gradovich vs Mauricio Javier Munoz.
The two clash in Macau on July 27. Dib’s preference is to face the ‘Mexican Russian’, but his ultimate motivation is to win back his world title beating either opponent.
Meanwhile, talk and murmurs locally of a bout between Dib and fellow Australia fighter Will Tomlinson grow.
On paper, it would be a great fight. Two young Aussies, one a featherweight former world champion, the other the current super featherweight IBO champion, battling it out would be what many local fight fans would want to see.
Weight would be an issue but Dib has fought up at super featherweight before and could make the move again.
Some of the biggest fights staged down under in recent times have been all-local battles – Mundine vs Geale, Mundine vs Green – and this is a featherweight match-up that would whet the appetite.
Dib, more of a boxer/mover and Tomlinson, more of the brawler/bloody warrior. Their two styles together would be exciting.
And there’s also the banter they have exchanged on social media recently, and Tomlinson sparring with Gradovich before he beat Dib earlier this year.
But, sadly, it seems unlikely to be made anytime soon. Last week Dib told me that his sole interest is in “winning the title off the man who took it off me.”
“I have no interest in that [Tomlinson] fight, it’s a nothing fight,” he said.
“He is a nobody to me but I wish him the best of luck in his career endeavours.”
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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