By Srithar Visuasam: On July 30, Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib (20-0, 11 KOs) will take the next step in his quickly blossoming career. He takes on tough South African Zolani Marali (19-1, 13 KOs) at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, New South Wales, Australia, for the vacant IBO super featherweight world title..
Since turning pro in August 2004, Dib has been widely touted among Australian boxing circles as a future world champion. In his 20 fights to date, Dib has shown plenty of promise and has won all his bouts with relative ease. Marali is set to be a tough customer for Dib, clearly the most credentialed fighter he has had to encounter.
Marali, 31, is the current WBF super featherweight champion and was the organization’s super bantamweight champion prior to moving up in weight. He was also the IBO super bantamweight champion in 2003. At 19-1, Marali has faced a fair share of quality opposition. His only defeat coming at the hands of countryman and former IBO featherweight champion, Thomas Mashaba in May 2004.
Billy Dib has the attributes of a star boxer laced within his game. He possesses rapid hand speed, slick evasive skills and a killer instinct that has served him well in his career to date. Such attributes have led him to being signed by Golden Boy Promotions and being guided under the tutelage of boxing greats Oscar De La Hoya and ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. Dib was signed by Golden Boy in 2006 and has now fought five times in the United States. These have included fighting on the undercards of the Floyd Mayweather Jr v Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto v Shane Mosley bouts last year.
Such is Golden Boy’s regard for Billy Dib that Mosley has flown into Sydney this week to be alongside him prior to his title showdown with Marali. Speaking to the Sun-Herald, Mosley voiced his endorsement of Dib stating “he seems strong-willed and he really wants to become the world champion…He has the skills and the charisma to make it as a great fighter.”
A win over Marali next week will place Dib in great position to face the other major players within the super feather weight division to unify the IBO title. Among the major sanctioning bodies, Dib is currently ranked at #16 by the WBC at super featherweight. He is ranked at featherweight at #14 by the WBA, # 13 IBF and #11 WBO. The major names at super featherweight include Juan Manuel Marquez, Joan Guzman, Edwin Valero and Cassius Baloyi.
Billy Dib has developed as a professional boxer at a terrific pace. His eye catching style has not only paid dividends in the ring but has earned him a contract with one of the world’s major boxing promoting firms. Billy Dib is an entertainment machine with loads of potential. Australian boxing is currently led by the likes of Anthony Mundine, Vic Darchinyan and Michael Katsidis. Over the coming year, expect Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib to be mentioned within the same breath when discussing Australia’s premier fighters.