Our Experts Decide: Takashi Miura vs. Billy Dib
FORMER IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib will headline Australian boxing’s return to free-to-air television on Friday night (AEST).
Dib, 29, will look to break Australia’s losing trend when challenging for the WBC super featherweight title against the belt’s current holder, Takashi Miura, 30, from the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Aus-Boxing spoke to a group of industry insiders and got their thoughts on who they thought would win the twelve-round world title fight and why.
Ben Damon, MAIN EVENT – Record: 9-8
Miura W 12 Dib: I expect we will see a vastly improved Billy Dib here. Speaking with him just before he left he looked fresh and sounded confident and at his best he is as good as, or better than Miura. A victory would be enormous for Australian boxing – this title means a lot.
Usually I would tip the Aussie out of loyalty in a close fight like this – but I know how comfortable Billy is in being the underdog in Japan – he’d rather we tip the other guy. I’ll cheer for Dib but tip some home cooking, with the local by decision.
Adam Wilcock, Manager/Promoter – Record: 10-7
Miura W 12 Dib: Dib will be in for a hard night, but so will Miura. Since his second loss to Gradovich, Billy hasn’t fought anyone credentialed or even a stepping stone fight to this level.
The Billy Dib we’ve seen in recent title fights with Gradovich will need to have found something extra to be competitive in this fight.
Alex McClintock, Journalist for TQBR/Radio National – Record: 2-0
Miura TKO 9 Dib: Unfortunately I don’t think Billy Dib is going to be able to outbox a fast, aggressive, hard hitting southpaw like Takashi Miura. Miura hits much harder than Evgeny Gradovich, who stopped Dib in 2013, so I think this ends the same way.
Phil D. Jay, Editor for World Boxing News – Record: 2-0
Miura TKO 10 Dib: I think Dib has a tough job on his hands against a big punching southpaw in Miura. I don’t see Dib being out-classed, although I have a feeling that a late stoppage is on the cards in favour of Miura.
Brett Bonetti, Journalist/Hulk Talk Radio – Record: 1-1
Miura W 12 Dib: Dib is a confident fighter and will be very hungry in what is likely his last chance to win a world title. I believe the best chance for Dib to defeat Miura is on points.
However, Miura is riding an eight fight win streak including victories over three tough Mexican fighters, and he doesn’t mind getting into a war. Dib needs to get off to a good start. It should be an exciting fight, but I have to give the edge to the home fighter in Japan.
Jake Donovan, Editor for BoxingScene.com – Record: 2-0
Miura TKO 10 Dib: I’d have loved Billy’s chances in this fight a couple of years ago. The move up in weight is a necessity, but he’s in for a tall order against a now established titlist in Miura, who really looks like the second best junior lightweight in the world.
A competitve fight early eventually reaches a point where Dib hopes to go twelve rounds, but is ultimately stopped against his will via attrition or by his corner in between rounds.
Adam Santarossa, Journalist for Newcastle Herald – Record: 2-0
Miura W 12 Dib: I think Dib is a big chance in this fight, but I’m concerned whether he’ll do enough to get a decision on foreign soil. Dib has a huge heart and that sometimes is his problem. He uses it more than his head on occasion.
He lost the title trading with Gradovich Dibs best asset is his speed, his silky boxing skills and his ring generalship. Dib used angles well and is hard to hit, yet in the Gradovich fights he was more focused on putting on a show by trading bombs.
Listening to Dib in interviews, he’s learnt his lesson and I expect a big performance, but I think he’ll just fall short in a close fight.
Cody Kaye, Journalist for Fox Sports – Record: 1-1
Miura W 12 Dib: Billy Dib is rolling the dice on his career in this fight. WBC super featherweight champion Takashi Miura is the real deal – he’s got plenty of power – likes to come forward and knows how to cut off the ring.
Billy has to outbox him, pure and simple. He won’t win a war against Miura. If Dib can stay on the outside, he’s a strong chance of winning over twelve.
Pat Kennedy, Matchmaker – Record: Debut
Miura UD 12 Dib: Billy Dib is a massive underdog going into this fight. Most people, even boxing people, don’t understand how boxing works in Japan. There are strict rules on how many rounds boxers can fight over, how they graduate from four to six rounds, and from six to eight rounds and so on.
There are strict rules on who they can fight and there are only a few titles they are allowed to contest and there are thousands of professional boxers in Japan, especially in the lower weights, and many more promotions.
Their world champions are national heroes. Boxing is very strong in Japan and it is much stronger than in Australia. Miura is one of the top guys in the world at 130, if not the best, and at home he will be near impossible to beat.
Billy Dib will have a big team with him in Japan and the brilliant Billy Hussein in his corner. My head says Miura to win in a near shutout, but my heart says back the Aussie underdog.
Neil Devey, Journalist for The West Australian – Record: Debut
Miura TKO 8 Dib: Much is being made of Billy Dib’s attempt to become Australia’s first WBC super featherweight champion when he faces title-holder Takashi Miura in Tokyo on Friday. But it’s not the weight of history that stands in the Sydney fighter’s way, instead the heavy hands of the Japanese southpaw.
Dib and his team have done well to get this shot, especially when his second loss to Evgeny Gradovich seventeen months ago could have signaled the end of his time as a top-line fighter. A victory on enemy soil will rank with some of the best displays of any Aussie boxer.
A come-forward fighter who nevertheless is more deliberate than all-action, Miura can be open, as shown when Sergio Thompson floored him in their 2013 title fight in Mexico. But if Dib delivers on his promise to attack, and he’s shown in the past he likes a rumble, then that could be made for Miura’s counter.
This is no mission impossible for a peak Dib. But I fear the wait for the 130 lb green belt to be heading Down Under will go on, with Miura forcing a stoppage against the game Aussie around the eighth or ninth round.
Lincoln Hudson, Trainer – Record: 11-4
Miura W 12 Dib: They say boxing in Australia is dead and buried, well try and tell Billy Dib that. What a great opportunity for Dib, to do what all other Aussie have havent and have fallen short.
We have had some very good fighters try to do what Billy is attempting to achieve and all have fallen short. I wish him well and hope and pray that he is the victor as Billy deserves greatness, but my boxing brain says the southpaw style of Takashi Miura will be too hard to handle, but gee I hope I am wrong.
Dino Billinghurst, Trainer – Record: 3-1
Dib W 12 Miura: I don’t know much about Miura, but from what I’ve seen, he looks like he hits okay. It will be a tough fight, but I think Billy Dib can win via majority decision if he boxes the guy.
Matt Clark, Manager/Advisor – Record: 10-2
Miura W 12 Dib: I’m really looking forward to watching this fight live on free-to-air. It’s great for boxing and here’s hoping Billy can pull off a huge upset. It’s a really tough bout for Billy but that’s what it’s all about at that level. I think Miura retains his title by decision.
Jeff Fenech, Trainer – Record: 1-4
Dib W 12 Miura: I’m confident Billy’s speed and experience will see him through Miura. I think Miura will come forward with power with his southpaw stance, but I think Billy is ready for this one.
George Reno, Trainer – Record: 9-3
Miura W 12 Dib: I love Billy Dib as a fellow countryman but this will be a hard fight for both. I think the Japanese southpaw will have the edge in power and home ground advantage will play a major role. I think Miura wins it on points.
Dan Smart, Columnist – Record: 4-0
Miura UD 12 Dib: A great opportunity presents itself for Billy in this fight. A legitimate title and the opportunity to win the exact same belt that eluded two of our Australian greats, Lionel Rose and Jeff Fenech.
Miura is as tough as nails who is a big puncher stopping 21 of his 28 opponents and including a 5-0 record of traditionally tough Mexican opponents. Physically its an intriguing match up with Dib having the height advantage and Miura having the edge in reach.
Billy has been on the big stage enough times now to pull out the win although fighting on a champions home turf in a world title fight is at times, an almost impossible task should the fight go to the scorecards. I think Billy needs a knockout in this one to get the job done.
Unfortunately for the brave Aussie, I can’t see him doing that, and I think he loses a close points decision.
Photo: Provided
