Billy Dib vs. Isaias Sampaio confirmed for December 6th in Sydney

 
IN the midst of a busy five month spell, former IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib is hoping to end the year on a high when he faces Brazilian livewire Isaias Santos Sampaio on December 6th.

 
Looking to make a swift rise up the super featherweight world ratings, Dib, 29, will fight for the first time on home soil in just over two years against the big-punching former WBC Silver lightweight title challenger Sampaio (19-9, 19 KOs) from the Hurtsville Entertainment Centre.

 
Sampaio, 28, has campaigned for the majority of his career in South America, facing some credible names, including former world title challengers Fernando David Saucedo and Daniel Estrada, while also holding the Brazilian national title twice.

 
Dib (38-3, 22 KOs) has been impressive in his short stint at super featherweight, scoring one-sided wins over former world title challenger Alberto Garza and durable Indonesian Ruben Manakane.

 
With some lucrative fights potentially on offer, most notably a touted return to network giant HBO, Dib will need to finish the year in impressive fashion.

 
In Sampaio, Dib is facing a noted puncher, with the Brazilian winning all his fights by knockout. Despite having fought lower opposition than that of Dib, the Sydney-based Dib is still wary of the threat that the Brazilian poses.

 
“Confidence comes from one’s preparation,” said Dib in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing. “Billy Hussein and I are working on a fantastic game plan and I’m very confident that come December 6th, my defensive skills will be one hundred percent on point,”

 
“Next year is shaping up to be a fantastic year,” Dib explained.

 
“My brother and manager Emaid has had preliminary talks with 50 Cent as well as the team at SMS Promotions and it looks like I could be appearing back on HBO in the early stages of 2015 in a very meaningful fight,”

 
Already holding world ratings with two of the sanctioning bodies, it appears as if Dib is only a fight or two away from landing another world title shot abroad. So in many ways, Dib is using the fight against Sampaio to fine tune what is already a well oiled defensive machine.

 
“A title fight is definitely the major goal for next year,” Dib added. “I have no doubt that at some point next year I will land myself in a position to challenge and win another world title,”

 
“I have a great team behind me who are working tirelessly on making sure this goal comes to fruition.”

 
“I feel fantastic at super featherweight and the extra kilos have definitely helped me train better and focus more on preparing for my opponents, rather than cutting weight,”

 
“I feel the best of me will be shown as I increase my weight over the coming years.”

 
The fight against Sampaio, sanctioned for the PABA super featherweight strap, will be the second consecutive fight where Dib has collaborated with Melbourne-based Solak, a notorious figure in the Australian kickboxing scene.

 
Dib spoke highly of Solak and his promotional team, citing a future co-promotion with SMS Promotions if the relationship continues to flourish in the coming months.

 
“Working with Tarik Solak has been nothing less than amazing,” said Dib of his working relationship with Solak. “For years we spoke about me appearing on some of his shows – it’s now a reality – and everything that he has promised, has been delivered and more,”

 
“Who knows maybe SMS and Tarik Solak Productions may work together in securing me a world title shot on home soil,”

 
“Anything is possible.”

 
 
Photo: Brock Ellis