For twenty five plus years, former IBF Featherweight and IBO Super featherweight world champion, Billy Dib (48-6) dedicated his entire life to boxing. This dedication culminated in 2011 when Billy won the IBF Featherweight Championship in Sydney.

Fast forward twelve years later and after just defeating his toughest challenge to date in the form of Non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Billy is ready yet again to step back into the boxing ring. This time as an official.

Speaking in an interview with From The Stands, Billy reveals why he’s decided to become a referee and his plans to help the sport.

” I’ve actually had a meeting with a few people from the IBF and I’m actually thinking of becoming a referee and a judge as well. At the end of the day I know what it feels like to be on the end of a sour decision. When you know how that feels you wouldn’t do that to another fighter. Especially when you know they’ve put in a ten, twelve week camp and they’ve worked there asses off”

Billy before his last fight against Jacob NG
(Photo Credit: ACE Boxing Group)

Billy went on to say:

” If I do do it, which I’m really heavily thinking about it, I’m going to do it with a lot of integrity and honour because I think that’s what boxing needs”

If Billy does indeed follow up his claims to become an IBF official, it would no doubt be one of the more captivating stories in recent memory. A man who himself has been on the receiving end of bad judging in the past, is looking to right that wrong and make a real difference in the boxing community.