BILLY Dib will attempt to do what great Australian boxers Lionel Rose and Jeff Fenech were unable to do — win a world title belt in the junior lightweight division.
Rose and Fenech won world titles but not the 60-kilogram World Boxing Council junior lightweight title. Dib wants to create history and be the first Australian to win it.
The Engadine fighter heads to Japan next month for a World Boxing Council showdown with reigning champion Takashi Miura.
"The fight is May 1," said Dib, 29.
"I will leave a week before for Japan to prepare for the fight and it's a great opportunity for me to win another world title."
Dib was set to fight for an International Boxing Federation title when he was approached by the Japanese management of Miura.
"He's a much avoided champion, Miura," said Emaid Dib, who is his brother's manager.
"They approached us which we consider a great honour.
"Billy has a professional record of 39 wins, 23 by knockout and three losses — and those three losses were for world title fights."
Emaid Dib said the two-hour difference was also a big factor in Japan for accepting the May 1 bout to be held at Ota Athletic Stadium.
"It won't be such a problem to prepare with a two-hour difference as opposed to fighting in the US," Emaid Dib said.
Miura has won 28, lost two and drawn two.
Billy Dib said he had never met his opponent but has seen plenty of video on how he fights.
"Takashi is a come-forward type of puncher," he said.
"We're contrasting in styles, I am more the technician, he is a hard puncher, a fighter."
Trainer Billy Hussein began the fighter's preparation four weeks ago.
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