- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After a five-year absence, Australian IBF featherweight world champion Billy Dib makes his return to the US to face Evgeny Gradovich. Catch all the action here from the MGM Grand with live updates from 1.00pm AEDT.
Dib was a rising star in the boxing world when his career took a nosedive in 2008.
Since then Dib, who hails from south-western Sydney, has had all of his fights in Australia. In 2011 he won the vacant IBF belt with a points win over Jorge Lacievra, and followed that up with defeats of Alberto Servidei by KO in the same year and Eduardo Escobedo by TKO in 2012.
Dib, who has 35-1 professional record with 21 KOs, last fought in Campsie in July when he beat Juan Antonio Rodriguez.
His opponent tonight is 26-year-old Russian-born Gradovich, who now resides in the States. Gradovich is the third choice for this bout after Dib’s early opponents fell through.
A match-up with Mauricio Muñoz collapsed during to an injury to Muñoz and then Luis Franco was lined up, before Franco pulled out because he was unhappy with the contract terms.
27-year-old Dib now faces the undefeated Gradovich, who has 15 wins and eight KOs from 15 fights. The tale of the tape shows that Dib is a year older, much more experienced and has a 2cm height advantage. Dib is ranked as the number four featherweight in the world by BoxRec, while Gradovich is 35th.
From Igrim, in Russia, Gradovich is known as the ‘Mexican Russian’ because of his aggressive style. He has former IBF world champion Robert Garcia in his corner and will be expected to come forward and attack Dib, rather than evade the Australian.
Gradovich has only been a professional since 2010 and has yet to face someone of Dib’s class, however he did have a long amateur career in his homeland where he had a record of 126-24.
Dib goes into this 12-rounder as the clear favourite, and should look to work off his jab. He needs to re-build his profile in the US and winning this fight, and in good fashion, will start that process.
Having rapper 50 Cent in his corner is all part of this pitch. But while ‘Fiddy’ will entertain outside the ring, it is up to Dib to do the same inside it.
Expect him to use his slick skills and pick off the Russian, and also look for a knockout if there is an opening, while also being wary of Gradovich’s power.
Prediction: Dib win by KO
Let’s get ready to rumble! Pick a fighter and place your bets with PlayUp for great odds. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.