Australia’s Billy Dib gets the chance to fight for a world title on home soil when he takes on America’s Tevin Farmer for the IBF super featherweight world title in Redfern. Join The Roar from 9pm (AEST) for live fight coverage and debate in our blog.
The 32-year-old Dib is a former featherweight world champion, winning the IBF belt at Homebush in 2011 with a unanimous decision over Mexican Jorge Lacierva.
He went on to defend his title twice before losing it to Russian Evgeny Gradovich in a split decision in 2013. Gradovich beat him again in in a rematch later that year via a ninth round TKO.
Since then, Dib has had seven wins from eight fights, with his only loss being a third round KO against Japan’s Takashi Miura for the WBC super featherweight world title in 2015.
Dib has a solid career KO win record at 56 per cent, and he’s been knocked out himself twice.
His opponent Tevin Farmer is a 28-year-old southpaw who has had an unusual rise through the ranks. The four losses in his career came in his first twelve fights, normally the sign of a fighter going nowhere. But since then, he’s compiled eighteen straight wins.
There was controversy in Farmer’s last bout though, which was a shot at the vacant IBF title that he and Dib are fighting for tonight. Farmer fought Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa (22-1) in Las Vegas in December last year. He lost via split decision on the judge’s scorecards, but the result was later overturned to a ‘no contest’ after Ogawa tested positive for steroids. The belt remained vacant.
Farmer tends to win his fights by decision, with just 20% of his victories coming via KO. He was knocked out himself twice earlier in his career.
This is a tough fight to call. Dib’s more extensive big-fight experience and home city advantage probably gives him the edge going in to the bout. Farmer has only fought over 12 rounds once in his career and Dib won’t get a better opportunity to regain a world title.
Prediction
Dib in a close points decision.
Join The Roar from 9pm for live fight coverage and debate in our blog.
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
Very sad for Dib for him to end his career but his career was nothing to sneeze at, 44 victories, two world titles, 9 world title fights and a fourteen year career. Congrats to Dib
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on tonight's coverage, hope you enjoyed it.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Fight report American Tevin Farmer was won the vacant IBF super featherweight world title with a unanimous decision over Australia's Billy Dib in Sydney. Farmer's boxing skills were too slick for Dib, who tried gamely throughout the twelve rounds to cut off the ring and brawl the 28-year-old American without success. Southpaw Farmer knocked Dib down with a great left hook in Round 9 and dominated nearly every round of the fight. His hand speed and footwork were too much for the 32-year-old Dib, who gave it his all but was simply outclassed. Dib announced his retirement immediately after the fight to bring the curtain down on a solid career. He finishes with a record of 43-5-1, including winning the IBF featherweight world title in 2011 and successfully defending it twice.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Yep, Billy wasn't really in it unfortunately. Farmer was too slick.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Unanimous decision for Farmer, 118-109, 119-108, 120-107.
Colby
Guest
11-1, 119-108 Easy decision.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 12 Farmer dominant early in the last, but Dib shows plenty of heart to keep coming forward throwing punches and he goes the distance. It's been a dominant performance from Farmer, he'll win a comfortable points decision to secure his first world title. Just waiting now for the judges to make it official.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 11 Farmer getting his second wind, showing good footwork and speed to evade Dib as he tries to come forward. He's picking Dib off regularly too with his superior hand speed. Dib's only chance is a KO in the 12th, but it's hard to see how he'll do that on what we've seen so far.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 10 Farmer piling on the pressure early again, Dib showboating with his hands down before coming to his senses. Farmer is fighting in spurts but can't put Dib away. Dib's mouthguard again comes out from a Farmer shot.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Dib will really have to dig deep now!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Dib up but in trouble as Farmer piles on the pressure and the bell rings to end the round!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 9 Both fighters toe to toe early and that sets the pattern for a tough round. A left from Dib grazes the referee as he tries to separate them and then Dib is dropped by a left hook!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 8 Fenech trying everything to motivate Dib before the start of the round, Farmer lands some clean shots early before Dib closes the gap so he can brawl and negate Farmer's speed. He keeps coming forward to chase Farmer and they continue to trade shots. A close round, could go either way, but Farmer's early shots may have swung it his way.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 7 Good left hook from Dib early in the round, his best punch of the fight. He sits on Farmer's chest and tries to bang away.Massive left by Farmer midway through the round as they separate and Dib loses his mouthguard. Farmer finished the round well but Dib may have done enough early to sneak the round.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 6 A slip from Dib early, no knockdown though. We're now halfway through the fight and Farmer is getting more room to show his hand speed and boxing skills. Dib is giving 100%, but is getting hit too often, too easily. Another Farmer round. Dib has it all to do in the second half of the fight.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 5 Farmer rocked Dib early in the round with a left hook but Dib shows plenty of heart to steady himself and continue with his brawling game plan. Both fighters have their moments but Farmer is still landing clean shots more regularly. Another Farmer round.
Colby
Guest
These announcers are terribly biased
Colby
Guest
4 - 0 Farmer
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 4 The fight settling into a pattern, Dib trying to crowd Farmer and brawl him, Farmer showing his boxing skills whenever he gets some room. Another close round, but some more clean shots from Farmer late in the round probably clinched it..
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 3 Both fighters come out trading in close, Farmer then showing his footwork and hand speed to give himself room. Dib keeps chasing and trying to crowd him.That was a close round, but more clean shots from Farmer again should have got him the round.