Billy Dib Vows To Go For The Knockout With Servidei

By Adrian Warren

AUSTRALIA'S IBF featherweight boxing world champion Billy Dib will chase a knockout and try to punch a hole in the unbeaten record of Italian Alberto Servidei in his first title defence on November 19.

Ranked eighth by the IBF, Servidei has held Italian, European and IBF Inter-Continental featherweight titles.

The fight at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre represents the first professional bout outside Italy for 36-year-old Servidei (31-0-2, 7 KOs).

"He's been comfortable fighting in his own backyard and now it's time for him to step out of his comfort zone,'' Dib said.

"The thing for me that intrigues me about this fight, and is so exciting, is he is undefeated and this is my opportunity to beat an undefeated fighter.

"Our plan is to make it a rough and tough fight. It's going to be an amazing performance.

"I'm expecting to put on a great performance for the Australian public, but I do have one thing on my mind and that's going out there and knocking him out.''

Dib has an 11-1 record against southpaws as a professional, with the one defeat coming against the then WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano three years ago.

Dib, 26, (32-1, 19 KOs) has been sparring with classy Australian southpaw Paul Fleming (11-0-1, 8 KOs), who is likely to appear on the November 19 undercard.