Billy Dib looking to earn world title shot having earned US fans’ respect

Billy Dib looking to earn world title shot having earned US fans’ respect

Twenty-eight year old Billy Dib is making his first apperance as a 130 pounder on Wednsday’s special edition ESPN2 Friday Night Fights as he takes on Mexican gatekeeper Alberto Garza in the ten-round co-featured bout.

It was five and a half years ago that Australia’s Dib (36-2, 21 knockouts) got his first taste of the American limelight as he challenged then-WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano on the Kelly Pavlik-Bernard Hopkins HBO pay-per-view undercard.

Luevano lost a close fight on the scorecards, but more importantly, his performance was one that the fans and American TV network executives weren’t impressed by. Rumors of Dib being blackballed by the two major US premium cable networks floated for years.

Dib, only 23 at the time, wasn’t going to let that be the last thing written about him by American boxing fans and critics. Years later, he had worked himself into a position to fight for the vacant IBF featherweight title — on his home soil, no less — and Dib won a unanimous decision over veteran Jorge Lacierva.

Though a world title was satisfying, Dib wanted to change the perception of him in American and signed a deal with 50 Cent, who was acting on behalf of then-friend Floyd Mayweather, who was incarcerated at the time for two months for domestic abuse.

“Basically, when I signed with 50 Cent, it was told to me that 50 Cent was doing it on the advice of Floyd Mayweather,” said Dib to Behind The Gloves in a phone interview this past weekend.

“Originally when I signed a contract, I signed a TMT contract. Unfortunately, 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather sort of parted ways; 50 went his way and Floyd went his way. I guess my relationship with Floyd is still a really good one. Floyd is a legendary fighter and a great guy and maybe one day I will be doing business with him, who knows.”

“Originally, when I signed to 50 Cent, my first title defense was supposed to be against Jayson Velez and that was supposed to be shown on the Showtime undercard of Miguel Cotto against Austin Trout,” said Dib.

“But for some reason, [Showtime Sports vice president] Stephen Espinoza decided to take me off the card and that was the end of it. So then when ESPN opened the doors and said they were happy to stage the fight, it worked out really good. I am where I am today because people love 50 Cent and SMS Promotions has had faith in me and have given me the opportunity. There’s no shame in fighting on a network like ESPN, it’s one of the biggest networks in the world. ESPN is staging some big fights, so I’m really thankful for them having faith in me and constantly letting me back on the network.”

Dib ended up instead defending his title against then-unknown Evgeny Gradovich on ESPN2′s Friday Night Fights. Gradovich surprised everyone and earned a split-decision, walking away with Dib’s title. Though Dib was no longer champion, he put on a game effort and the fight was back-and-forth and full of momentum swings. Dib had earned the respect of the same American boxing fans that had no interest in seeing him fight for the previous few years.

“I guess you could say it was a bit of a moral victory and I was able to win over the regular boxing fan,” said Dib of the heartbreaking defeat to Gradovich.

“I get approached now by people who say it was exciting. That is nice but I would give that up to have the title back. At the time I was champion, I was so connected to that world title, and to lose it in the circumstances of a split decision, that kind of hurt. But that was a moral victory to win over the fans, and it is not over for me. I’m in a great position, when you put yourself in exciting fights the network is gonna want to put you back on. I’ve been welcomed back onto ESPN and I’m sure another great victory on July 2 will catapult me back into a big fight – either on Showtime or HBO, who knows.”

Dib has fought twice since, a tight majority decision over Mike Oliver on ESPN2 and a rematch stoppage loss to Dib. The tough fights prompted Dib to take some time off and regroup for the next part of his career.

“I made a decision with my team to sort of take the time off from the sport of boxing and let the body and the mind heal,” said Dib.

“I’m in a good place now in my life. Mentally and physically, I feel great. That’s why I didn’t rush to get back in the ring. Six months out from my last fight I’ll be back in the ring and hopefully I put on a great performance.”

Though Dib has been getting the American exposure since signing with 50 Cent, he does wonder about what differences might have come had Mayweather stayed involved.

“I really wish that TMT had originally stuck to the original plan,” said Dib.

“Although 50 Cent is a great business mind, Floyd has so many connections in the game of boxing. When you’re involved with a person like Al Haymon, as Floyd Mayweather is, and a lot of the fighters Floyd works with are connected with Al Haymon, that can only help catapult your career and put you into the big fights. The thing is, when I originally signed with the company, it was to fight in the really big fights.”

“In saying that, no one is to blame for the losses. At the end of the day, I came prepared and I took the gamble in getting in the ring with Evgeny Gradovich and giving him a shot when he wasn’t even my mandatory. It just so happened to be the start of the line for him; he won that fight and he won the rematch. I am where I am today because that’s what God had willed for me. Now I’m coming back and hopefully moving up in weight to super featherweight is gonna help a little bit and possibly capture another world title in another weight.”

As Dib aspires for another crack at a world title, there is another Australian at 130 pounds in Will Tomlinson. Tomlinson signed with Golden Boy Promotions and promptly lost a decision to Jerry Belmontes, who acquitted himself later on in a lightweight title fight against Omar Figueroa. Grudge matches featuring two local fighters can often mean big bucks, but Dib doesn’t see that fight coming together anytime soon.

“Anything is possible but I just feel he hasn’t earned that right yet,” said Dib.

“In his last fight he had an opportunity to put himself in a position against a guy he was supposed to beat, he got thoroughly outboxed so I just feel he has to earn his stripes first. He’s gotta build himself back up and earn himself the opportunity to fight me in Australia. I’m more of the name over there, he’s just a guy who is sort of like a nobody in Australia at the moment and he hasn’t proven himself or his validity to anybody.”

“Not taking anything away from Jerry Belmontes, but he was supposed to be there as an opponent and Will failed miserably. He was thoroughly outboxed and I think he lost 9 out of the 10 rounds. I wish him all the best moving forward, it is something that can happen down the road. Obviously, the timing has got to be right but I feel like I’m on a different journey, right around the corner from a world title fight in the not too distant future. My mind is set on winning titles not fighting grudge matches with other Australians.”

For now, Dib has his sights set on earning his title shot the old-fashioned way, by working himself into a mandatory spot.

“I’m hoping I can put myself into a mandatory position where once the fight goes to purse bid, we can bid to win the fight and put the fight in Australia,” said Dib. “There’s nothing like winning a world title at home, it is the best feeling ever.”

One thing 50 Cent has is deep pockets, and should Dib find himself back as a mandatory, he could bring another title fight to his home country.

Whatever the road for Billy Dib, it begins Wednesday with Alberto Garza. Dib realizes future plans are moot if he doesn’t perform up to people’s expectations.

“Alberto Garza is the type of guy that engages. He’s got the typical Mexican warrior mentality. Alberto has been involved in some big fights not so long ago, he fought an IBO world title fight, a WBC silver title fight, a WBA world title fight with Nicholas Walters. He’s been in with some really good opposition so it is gonna let me see exactly where I am at.”

Wednesday, we find out exactly where Billy Dib is at.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com