AUSTRALIA?S Billy Dib will be out to make boxing history in Tokyo on May 1 when he fights for the World Boxing Council junior-lightweight title once held by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Aussie greats Jeff Fenech and Lionel Rose were both thwarted in their attempts to snare the prestigious 59kg crown but Dib says he can pull off an upset against Japanese world champ Takashi Miura when they clash at the Ota-City General Gymnasium.
Billy Dib wants to make Australian boxing history by winning the WBC junior-lightweight title. Picture: Stephen Laffer
The fight comes one day before Mayweather fights Pacquiao in Las Vegas in the richest fight of all time.
Dib, 29, who has lost just three of 43 pro fights, has already tasted world title glory, holding the IBF featherweight (57kg) title until his reign was ended by Russian strongman Evgeny Gradovich in 2013.
Fenech, who helped Dib gain the new title shot through his close contacts with the WBC, made two attempts on the junior-lightweight title, fighting a draw with Azumah Nelson in Las Vegas in 1991 and then losing a rematch the following year in Melbourne before 38,000 people, the biggest live crowd ever for a fight in Australia.
Lionel Rose dropped a 15-round decision against to Japan?s WBC 59kg champ Yoshiaki Numata in Hiroshina in 1971, three years after his astonishing win for the world bantamweight crown against Fighting Harada.
Evgeny Gradovich of Russia defeated Billy Dib during their ‘Clash in Cotai’ IBF Featherweight title bout on November 24, 2013 in Macau. Picture: Getty Images
Sydney fighter Dib is confident he can succeed where the other Aussies have failed.
?I know it?s going to be a huge test but it?s a perfect opportunity to shine on the world stage one day before the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight,? Dib said.
?Miura is a southpaw who has been world champ for two years. He?s only had one loss in the last eight years and that was in a world title fight after he?d dropped the champ.
?I was offered a shot at the vacant IBF world title against Jose Pedraza of Puerto Rico but I took the WBC shot in Japan because I want to make history and beat the world champion in his hometown.
?My only losses have been in world championship bouts so I go into the fight with a good record and plenty of confidence.?
Fenech said he hoped Dib could win the title that eluded him twice against Nelson.
?I hope all of Australia gets behind Billy Dib for this fight,? Fenech said. ?He?s a great kid and a terrific fighter and this is a chance for an Aussie to make boxing history.?
The crowd at the Jeff Fenech v Azuma Nelson boxing match at Princes Park, Carlton at 38,000 was record for a live crowd at an Australian boxing match.
The fight will be televised by Japanese network Fuji TV while negotiations continue for the telecast in Australia.
The hard-hitting Miura, 30, has a record of 28 wins, two losses and two draws, with 21 KOs.
Floyd Mayweather won the WBC junior-lightweight title against American Genaro Hernandez in 1998. Pacquiao won the same title a decade later against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
Dib is ranked the No. 7 contender by the WBC.
His title fight was signed as his arch rival in Australia, Melbourne?s Will Tomlinson, prepares to face the WBC?s No. 1 contender, Mexican Francisco Vargas, in San Antonio, Texas on Friday (Australian time).
The Tomlinson fight will be shown on Fox Sports Channel 501 at 8.30pm Brisbane time on Friday.
