Bilal Dib (born 17 August 1985), known as Billy Dib, is an Australian professional boxer. He held the IBF featherweight title from 2011 to 2013, and the IBO super-featherweight title in 2008.
Early years Dib was born on 17 August 1985 at Kogarah Hospital in Sydney. He has suffered from chronic asthma since birth, and he spent the first six months of his life in an incubator fighting the ailment. He took up boxing at the age of 12 to try to overcome the condition. His parents had emigrated to Australia from Lebanon, and owned a small greengrocer store in Engadine, where he grew up.
He is brothers to professional boxer, Youssef, and New South Wales Labor MP, Jihad.
Amateur career After starting boxing at the age of 12 at the local Police and Community Youth Club (PCYC), he soon began appearing in amateur competitions, winning 98 out of 113 bouts. During this period he was the Australian Champion on three occasions, and he was selected to train at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). However, his preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games was hindered by a motorcycle accident, and he was not selected for the Australian team. He subsequently turned down an offer to join Lebanon's Olympic team, arguing that he had been representing Australia and would not feel right if drawn against an Australian in the tournament as Australia was his, and his family's home.
After missing out on the Olympics Dib traveled to Sheffield to train with Prince Naseem Hamed, who encouraged him to turn professional.
Professional career
Dib's first professional fight was against Chad Roy Naidu in August 2004, as an 18-year-old. He won, and subsequently went on to win the next 20 bouts, not losing until October 2008, against Steven Luevano. Dib traveled to the United States in 2006, after being offered the opportunity to train with Mike Tyson. While there he met Shane Mosley, and this led to Dib signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
IBO super-featherweight title challenge On 30 July 2008, Billy Dib faced South African Zolani Marali for the IBO super featherweight title. Although Marali had a greater reach, and despite being knocked down in the third round, Dib was able to win on a unanimous points decision (116–114, 116–112 and 114–113), allowing him to capture the title.
WBO featherweight title challenge Billy Dib fought against Steven Luevano, the WBO featherweight champion, on 18 October 2008. He was unsuccessful, losing to Luevano in a unanimous points decision. After the match Dib announced that he would come back as a better boxer, stating that he would learn from the experience.
Return after first loss On Wednesday, 11 March 2009, at the Campbelltown Cube in Sydney, Dib returned to the ring in a spectacular performance, beating 22-year-old local Campbelltown fighter undefeated Davey Browne Jnr via an 8th round technical decision after Browne was cut above both eyes. The first cut opened after an accidental head clash, while the second came from a clean punch. The fight was stopped on the first cut and went to the scorecards.
On 9 July 2009, Billy Dib and Kenichi Yamaguchi were the main event on One HD's first Superboxer promotion. After being knocked down during the opening stages of the first round, Dib rallied late in the piece to down Yamaguchi. While Yamaguchi was on his knees, Dib hit him with a late left-handed punch, and although Yamaguchi returned to his feet, he appeared unsteady, leading the referee to stop the fight at 2:59 seconds of the first round in Dib's favour. As Yamaguchi protested the call to the referee Dib without reason shoved Yamaguchi as well as his trainer sparking a small brawl between the two corners.
Questions regarding the decision were raised after the fight, with some expressing the belief that the punch constituted a foul, and thus Yamaguchi should either have been given time to recover, the fight declared a no-contest, or Dib should have been disqualified.
Subsequently, the NSW Boxing Authority announced that they are undertaking an investigation into the events, and at their monthly board meeting on 4 August, the officials determined to change the result to a no-contest.
IBF featherweight champion After nine straight victories, in July 2011 Dib took on longtime contender Jorge Lacierva and captured the IBF Featherweight belt via Unanimous Decision. Occasionally getting involved in a few lively and engaging exchanges, out-boxing his smaller opponent.
On 19 November 2011, Billy made the first defense of his title, knocking out Italian challenger Alberto Servidei in 2:38 of the first round from a left hook to the body.
Dib made his second title defense against Eduardo Escobedo on 7 March 2012 in retaining his title with a seventh-round TKO, his aggressive body attack broke down Escobedo who did not come out for round seven.
He lost the title to Evgeny Gradovich on 1 March 2013. A rematch between the two was scheduled for 23 November 2013, when Evgeny Gradovich won by TKO in the 9th round.
Dib vs. Farmer On 3 August 2018, Dib fought Tevin Farmer for the vacant IBF super featherweight championship. Farmer was ranked #4 by the IBF at the time. Farmer dominated Dib and dropped him once en route to a convincing unanimous decision win, 120–107, 119-108 and 118–109.
Dib vs. Khan After a brief retirement following a loss to Tevin Farmer in 2018, Dib returned to the ring in August 2019, losing in a WBC welterweight title fight to Amir Khan. Dib lost via a fourth-round TKO. Khan was ranked #15 by the WBC at welterweight.
He has fought three times since his come back, twice in 2019, once in 2021.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes57WinAtilla KayabasiUD812 Dec 202456Win48–6 (2)Jacob NgDQ6 (10), 19 Mar 202255Win47–6 (2)Joey BaylonTKO7 (10), 30 Jan 202154Win46–6 (2)Van Thao TranUD1021 Dec 201953Loss45–6 (2) Amir KhanTKO4 (12), 12 Jul 2019 52Win45–5 (2) Fonluang Sor SingyuKO1 (8), 26 Apr 201951Loss44–5 (2) Tevin FarmerUD123 Aug 201850Win44–4 (2) Rachamongkol Sor PleonchitKO2 (8) 31 Dec 2017 49Win43–4 (2) Khunkhiri Wor WisaruthUD82 Dec 201748NC42–4 (2)Yardley Armenta CruzNC3 (8), 29 Jul 2017 47Win42–4 (1)Emilio NorfatTKO1 (10), 16 Dec 201646Win41–4 (1) Pharanpetch Tor BuamasUD123 Jun 201645Win40–4 (1) Sukkasem KietyongyuthUD826 Feb 201644Loss39–4 (1)Takashi MiuraTKO3 (12), 1 May 201543Win39–3 (1)Isaias Santos SampaioTKO2 (12), 6 Dec 201442Win38–3 (1)Ruben ManakaneKO8 (10), 31 Oct 201441Win37–3 (1)Alberto GarzaUD102 Jul 2014 40Loss36–3 (1)Evgeny GradovichTKO9 (12), 24 Nov 201339Win36–2 (1) Mike Oliver107 Jul 2013 38Loss35–2 (1)Evgeny GradovichSD121 Mar 2013 37Win35–1 (1)Juan Antonio RodríguezUD1013 Jul 201236Win34–1 (1)Eduardo Escobedo6 (12), 7 Mar 201235Win33–1 (1)Alberto ServideiKO1 (12), 19 Nov 201134Win32–1 (1)Jorge LaciervaUD1229 Jul 201133Win31–1 (1)Ricky SismundoTKO8 (8), 12 Mar 201132Win30–1 (1)Mick ShawKO6 (8), 8 Dec 201031Win29–1 Jack AsisKO4 (8), 15 Sep 201030Win28–1 (1)Ceferino Dario LabardaTKO6 (8), 2 Sep 201029Win27–1 (1) Wacharakrit SenahanKO1 (12), 2 Jun 201028Win26–1 (1)Reynaldo BelandresKO6 (8), 8 Apr 201027Win25–1 (1)Carlos LopezKO6 (8), 6 Mar 201026Win24–1 (1)Roel ManganUD818 Dec 200925Win23–1 (1)Flash Villacura4 (8), 11 Oct 20092422–1 (1)Kenichi YamaguchiNC1 (12), 9 Jul 200923Win22–1Davey Browne Jr.8 (10)11 Mar 200922Loss21–1 Steven LuevanoUD1218 Oct 2008 21Win21–0Zolani MaraliUD1230 Jul 200820Win20–0Rey Anton OlarteTKO3 (8), 27 Jun 200819Win19–0Leon MaratasTKO5 (8), 16 May 200818Win18–0 Edgar Fabian Vargas1022 Mar 2008 17Win17–0Rogers MtagwaUD810 Nov 2007 16Win16–0Jose Alberto GonzalezUD85 May 2007 15Win15–0Carlos ContrerasUD1010 Feb 2007 14Win14–0 Phillip PayneUD82 Dec 2006 13Win13–0Feliciano Dario AzuagaTKO5 (10), 4 Aug 200612Win12–0Ruben SantillanosaKO4 (10), 23 Jun 200611Win11–0Ariel OmongosTKO1 (4), 17 May 200610Win10–0Imad Khamis626 Nov 2005 9Win9–0Rey MartizanoTKO1 (8), 7 Oct 20058Win8–0Jesar Ancajas5 (10), 16 Sep 20057Win7–0Michael KizzaKO2 (10), 24 Aug 20056Win6–0Roberto OyanUD1224 Apr 20055Win5–0John MinKO2 (10), 10 Dec 20044Win4–0Rolando Gerongco629 Oct 20043Win3–0 Kraisamut HothaisongKO4 (6), 8 Oct 20042Win2–0Binnu Singh3 (6)17 Sep 20041Win1–0Chad Roy Naidu4 (4), 15 Aug 2004
Media appearances In 2022, Dib competed on the reality competition series The Challenge: Australia.
Personal life Billy is a practising Muslim and regularly features in fundraising events within the Muslim community.
In October 2022, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer which forced his early retirement from boxing. He was given a 23% chance of survival and doctors reportedly told him that he had 6 months to live. In 2025, he declared that he was cancer free.
References
External links
Billy Dib - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live