Q & A with Billy “The Kid” Dib

[El Raincoat]

Q & A with Billy “The Kid” Dib

World rated Featherweight Billy “The Kid” Dib 30-1(18) hails from Sydney, though is of Lebanese decent. He enjoyed a successful amateur career, before injury prevented him representing Australia at the 2004 Olympics. It was at this point Dib traveled to Sheffield, England to train with his hero Nassem Hamed. Hamed liked what he saw and encouraged his young protégé to turn professional. Having quickly rattled off nineteen wins over the next four years he got his title shot when he went up against Steve Luevano. It was to be Dib’s only career loss to date, going down to a decision. Still only 25, Dib has rebounded well since going 9-0(7) with 1 No Contest. An impressive performance Saturday against Ricky Sismundo 18-5(7) could propel him back into the world scene. The young veteran believes he’s learnt from the Luevano loss, along with sparring in America and is nearing a second opportunity. Currently he’s ranked WBA 12 & IBF 4.


Hello Billy, welcome to 15 rounds. com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you will be fighting Ricky Sismundo this weekend. What are your thoughts on this fight and what are you looking for from this fight?

Billy Dib – This is going to be a match in which I will be able to showcase my skills and put in a good performance against a dangerous opponent for the people of Perth, especially since it is my first fight out West. I will be looking to stick to the game plan and am definitely aiming for a knockout.

Anson Wainwright – What are you plans for 2011? Are you targeting anyone in particular?

Billy Dib – 2011 is going to be the year where I finally break out and become the force in the Featherweight division that I am capable of being. Our main target for this year is Chris John and his WBA title but first I will have to put in an impressive performance against Ricky Sismundo. There are, however, some really good things coming in 2011 for us so I urge the fans to keep an eye out for me in what’s going to be a major year for Team BTK.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team? Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you regularly train at? Have you left Australia for sparring, if so who have you sparred with and how did it go?

Billy Dib – I have a great team behind me and am very thankful to have them. My manager is Michael K who also manages rising Australian star, Garth Wood. My trainer is the master coach Billy Hussein, who I truly believe is one of the best trainers in the world. I am a free agent at the moment but I’m working with great, young promoters such as Ty Colman as well as having a great relationship with Grange Old School Boxing. I train at my own gym in which is located in Lakemba. I travelled to the US to spar with some talented fighters in Jesse Magdaleno, Diego Magdaleno and Celestino Caballero. This was very beneficial as I had the chance to test my skills.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve won 9 straight since you fought for the WBO Featherweight title against Steve Luevano in 2008. How do you think you have improved since you had that fight with Luevano? What can you tell us about that fight? Was it just a bit soon for you etc?

Billy Dib – I definitely feel as though I have improved under the guidance of Billy Hussein as we have added dimensions to my skill-set which I did not focus on before this fight. The fight with Luevano obviously did not go according to plan and I lost to a better fighter only on that night. There are no excuses for the performance but I know in my heart that I will not pass up another opportunity such as that one again.

Anson Wainwright – The Featherweight division is talent packed with the likes of Juanma Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Chris John etc what are your thoughts on the division in general?

Billy Dib – It really is a division littered with a lot of great fighters. It is also a division in which I believe I can be among the elite once given my chance to prove my worth. I will be looking to prove that by working my way to the top already having a number 4 spot in the IBF. My team and I will be pushing for fights to put us in a place to be able to challenge and beat these champions.

Anson Wainwright – Your last 3 fights have taken place above the 126 Featherweight limit, are you looking for fights at 130?

Billy Dib – I am looking for fights anywhere between 126 and 130 as long as they are high calibre fights which will help to improve my standing in world boxing.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career and what happened to prevent you representing Australia in the 2004 Olympics? Also what titles did you win and what was your final record?

Billy Dib – I had a very enjoyable and distinguished amateur career in which I represented Australia all over the world. I was unable to represent Australia in the 2004 Olympics due to a motorbike accident which hampered my performance at the trials. I won numerous state, national and Golden Gloves titles, compiling a record of 113 fights for 98 wins.

Anson Wainwright – After not going to the Olympics you came to Britain and went to train with Nassem Hamed. what can you tell us about that experience?

Billy Dib – That was definitely an experience which changed my life. Training with my hero in boxing was something that felt simply like a dream. From there a bond was forged between me and Naz and we have become like brothers. Naz also encouraged me to turn professional after watching a few of my fight tapes, telling me that my style would be better suited to the professional ranks and I did just that.

Anson Wainwright – In 2006 you were given the chance to train with Mike Tyson, how did that come about and what was it like?

Billy Dib – Jeff Fenech decided to take me over to the US to meet and train with Mike Tyson as a 21st Birthday present. It was a great experience training alongside one of the greatest fighters of all time in Mike Tyson. While over there I met with the legendary Sugar Shane Mosley who took me under his wing. We shared many training camps together, shared the ring together in sparring many a time. He is a great mentor and friend of mine.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what do you like to do with your time? What are your hobbies & Interests?

Billy Dib – I like to spend time with my family and friends when I am away from boxing. I enjoy wakeboarding and shooting some hoops. I enjoy watching Rugby League, Basketball and Soccer, supporting St George Illawarra in Rugby League, LA Lakers in Basketball and Manchester United in Soccer.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Billy Dib – My fans can stay updated with the latest and greatest on my Twitter page, Facebook page and my website at billythekid.com.au. Thanks for all the wonderful support.

Thanks for your time Billy, keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright

15 rounds. com

[thunderfromdownunder]

Q. billy, when are you going to fight an opponent with a pulse?

[Da Voice]

Q. Billy, when are you gonna learn ring sportsmanship??

[Sweet P]

For all the bad press about Billy, He is one of the nicest young guys you could meet. He goes out of his way to catch to fans and is a quite and respectful bloke.

He may rub people up the wrong way, and has made a few bad choices in the heat of battle. But as a person he is a good guy.

He really has some good skills and i hope he gets another shot at a Title.

[Da Voice]

For all the bad press about Billy, He is one of the nicest young guys you could meet. He goes out of his way to catch to fans and is a quite and respectful bloke.

He may rub people up the wrong way, and has made a few bad choices in the heat of battle. But as a person he is a good guy.

He really has some good skills and i hope he gets another shot at a Title.

Maybe he should undergo anger management course to reduce/eliminate it, when things ain't in his favour in the ring??
I suspect he sees fights as street fights in front of his mates, which is never a good look if one gets done.
He reminds me, of sorts, of South Aussie boxer Bora Altintas - Nice/sincere bloke, but.....??

[colin russell]

Da Voice If nothing nice to say then say nothing

[Da Voice]

Da Voice If nothing nice to say then say nothing

If you prefer to read only nice things, may I suggest you subscribe to FIST, World of Boxing etc hard print & ditch Internet :P

[amwsnw]

I must admit I wasnt a huge fan, that was until I had the opportunity to meet the guy after his recent bout in Perth. For a young guy he carried himself with utmost professionalism. He took time out to speak with my 6 year old about everything from Oscar DeLaHoya to Danny Green. When i spoke to him he was very humble in victory heaping praise on his opponent. You must understand, we were not introduced by anyone. Billy came up and sat next to me and my boy and just started chatting about the evenings card and left about 25 minutes later.
Billy is a great bloke who has a different personallity inside the ring than outside, boxing has and will always have plenty of them. good luck with the future Kid.

[Da Voice]

I must admit I wasnt a huge fan, that was until I had the opportunity to meet the guy after his recent bout in Perth. For a young guy he carried himself with utmost professionalism. He took time out to speak with my 6 year old about everything from Oscar DeLaHoya to Danny Green. When i spoke to him he was very humble in victory heaping praise on his opponent. You must understand, we were not introduced by anyone. Billy came up and sat next to me and my boy and just started chatting about the evenings card and left about 25 minutes later.
Billy is a great bloke who has a different personallity inside the ring than outside, boxing has and will always have plenty of them. good luck with the future Kid.

Have you ever heard of split personality ??

[amwsnw]

I liken it more to "white line fever" than split personallity.
I dont think Billy likens it to a street fight, far from it !! He is an excellent "boxer" as well as a showman.

[El Raincoat]

I hear Dib will fight Mikey Garcia for the Vacant IBF Featherweight title in July. I would imagine that the fight will take place in America.

[Brute]

Da Voice If nothing nice to say then say nothing

I can remember my chemistry teacher quoting an older Marist Brother saying "if you can't say something nice about somebody, say nothing at all". He then looked at his bete' noir in the class and said "Peter has nice teeth."