Billy Dib sets scene for fiery bout against Alberto Servidei

IT didn't take long for the ill-feeling to emerge, as world champion Billy Dib and his opponent Alberto Servidei jabbed each other with insults before the fight on Saturday.

 

Meeting for the first time in Leichhardt's Italian Forum for the official media conference yesterday, neither fighter was left impressed.

Dib, defending his IBF featherweight title for the first time at the State Sports Centre in Homebush, said: "Honestly, now that I have sized him up, he is in trouble."

To which Servidei, 36, responded through his translator: "I am 10 years older than him, but my face is pretty compared to his. You can see the marks on his face, and a good fighter is one that doesn't get hit."

Dib (32-1, 19KO) credits his surge to the world title to the one defeat he has suffered, to Steven Luevano in 2008.

The undefeated Servidei (31-0-2, 7KO) said the only blemishes in his career were draws suffered when he broke his hand in one fight and injured his elbow in the other.

"Being undefeated is dangerous for him, not me," Dib said. "I have felt it. He doesn't know if he has worked hard enough.

"He doesn't know hard you have to train after you lose, because it's a whole different ball game. He's going to see things he's never seen on Saturday night."

Servidei replied: "I don't plan to find out how it feels to lose. If I ever need to know, I can ask Billy Dib."

Dib plans to finish the fight with an overhand right.

During close exchanges, the southpaw Servidei likes to step to the side and counter. He doesn't mind getting rough and works the jabs and feints to land his solid overhand left.

The Dib camp is confident of a knockout within the first four rounds, with the champion urging Servidei to bring a pillow to the ring, "because you are going to sleep".

Servidei smirked: "It's easy to talk, not so easy to do."

In other news, Nick Walshaw reports that Danny Green's new sparring partner, Andrzej Fonfara from Poland, has hit at claims he's spying on the Aussie champion.

Virtually anonymous outside his native Warsaw, Fonfara has become the hottest topic in Australian boxing this past fortnight following claims he's spying for countryman and WBC cruiserweight champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk - who Green will fight on November 30.

"I am not spying against Danny Green," the Polish light heavyweight fired last night. "Yes, Australians are calling me a spy. I don't like it.

"What they are saying is not true. I don't say nothing.

"I am here for sparring . . . that's it."

Jamie Pandaram  -  www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/boxing/billy-dib-sets-scene-for-fiery-bout-against-alberto-servidei/story-e6freygr-1226197201919

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