By Jake Donovan
Billel Dib emphatically avenged the lone loss of his young career, stopping prior conqueror Dylan Sendeckyj in eight rounds Thursday evening in New South Wales, Australia.
While their first fight last October was a nip-and-tuck-affair, the rematch - which aired live on Australia's Fox Sports - was never in doubt. Dib was in control from the outset, boxing wisely early on and picking up the intensity with each passing round. Sendeckyj escaped their first fight with a majority decision last time around, but was lucky to win a round on this evening, as his game plan appeared to be little more than to frustrate his opponent with questionable tactics.
Dib would have none of it, overwhelming his countryman before dropping and stopping him with a body shot midway through the eighth round. Sendeckyj sunk to his knees before the referee halted the contest.
The official time was 1:33 of round eight.
Dib picks up his second straight win as he improves to 11-1 (5KO). Sendeckyj falls to 4-2-1 (0KO), with all four wins coming in succession entering this fight.
The win marked a positive night for the Dib family. Older brother Ahmed (7-0, 3KO) remained unbeaten on the undercard, scoring a 2nd round knockout of Manopnoi Singmanasak (9-15, 5KO).
Billel and Ahmed are first cousins to former featherweight titlist Billy Dib, who returns to the ring July 5 versus Mike Oliver in his opponent's hometown of Hartford, Connecticut.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, Yahoo Boxing Ratings Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
