By Ryan Songalia
With a proposed fight with Lorenzo Villanueva all but history, Australian featherweight Billy Dib now turns his attentions to Filipino journeyman Ricky Sismundo on March 12 at the WA Italian Club in Perth, Australia. The fight is scheduled for eight rounds and will be promoted by Billy Hussein, who also trains Dib.
The 25-year-old Sydney, Australia native Dib, who holds a record of 30-1 (18 KO), has won his last six fights by stoppage and is unbeaten in 10 fights since unsuccessfully challenging Steven Luevano for the WBO featherweight title in 2008.
Sismundo, 23, of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines is far less experienced at 18-5 (7 KO) but went the distance with former two-time title challenger Terdsak Kokietgym and lasted ten rounds with title challenger Daud Cino Yordan. Sismundo has won his last two fights over undistinguished opposition.
"Ricky is a tough customer...my aim is to stop him," said Dib, who is currently ranked #5 by the IBF. "I'm very disappointed that the fight with Villanueva fell through but that's boxing. Everything happens for a reason and it's all in God's plan for me."
Australian-based TV host and boxing promoter Peter Maniatis matched the fight for Dib's people and says that, while Dib is the favorite, he expects Sismundo to be competitive.
"He is a tough, durable and strong boxer and will give Dib a good fight," said Maniatis, who hosts a boxing-themed show on Melbourne channel 31 called The KO Boxing Show.
"l think Dib will have the speed advantage and also a class edge over Sismundo but this could end up being one hell of a fight."
Dib was scheduled to face undefeated WBO Oriental featherweight champion Lorenzo Villanueva (18-0, 17 KO) before the fight fell through after concerns arose from Villanueva's manager about the officials. Dib insists that despite the change in plans, he will be at his best.
"I wont fight down a level against Ricky. I'll be 100% on my game."
Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMANews.TV and the Filipino Reporter newspaper. From January through April, he will cover the Daily News Golden Gloves tournament for the New York Daily News. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com . An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia . |
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