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Billy Dib is supremely confident ahead of his world title fight against Takashi Miura. Source: News Corp Australia
BILLY Dib and Takashi Miura had to be pulled apart following a fiery weigh-in showdown in Japan that has convinced the Australian boxer his rival is feeling the pressure.
Dib fights WBC super-featherweight champion Miura in Tokyo tonight, and the bout will be shown live on Channel 9 after the Anzac rugby league Test.
Tensions between the pair simmered all week before yesterday’s intense staredown nearly resulted in the pair coming to blows.
Both fighters’ teams pulled the pair away before the confrontation turned physical, but Dib walked away with even more confidence that he can shock the world and spring an upset against one of the hardest punchers in the division.
“He was trying to break me at the weigh-in with his staredown, but that showed me he is worried,†Dib said.
Billy Dib after beating Mexico’s Eduardo Escobedo. Source: News Limited
“He was trying to scare me, he just kept staring, and I wasn’t going to back down.
“He was saying at the press conference that he hopes he can land his big punches, and that’s going to be enough to slow me down, but it’s going to take a lot more than that.
“I have a lot of height and reach on the guy and I will box clever. I am so confident that you can quote me on this: I will definitely win this fight.
“I feel as good as I did when I beat Jorge Lacierva (in 2011 to win his first world title).
“I just feel like it’s written as destiny. With the will of God, Friday night is going to be a great night for me and for Australian boxing.â€
Both men weighed in at the 130 pound (58.97kg) limit.
Dib (39-3, 23KO) is far more experienced in big fights than Miura (28-2-2, 21KO) but the heavy-hitting champion has been able to put his past six opponents on the canvas.
It is the first time in 25 years that Channel 9 will televise a live world-title fight.
Originally published as ‘Quote me! I’ll definitely win this fight’