By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
Former IBF featherweight champion Billy “The Kid” Dib (46-6, 26 KOs) clearly outscored Vietnam’s Van Thao Tran (12-1, 8 KOs) over ten rounds at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre in Sydney, NSW, Australia on Saturday. Dib controlled the action in rounds one and two but in round three Tran outworked the former world champion. Dib regained control in round four and dominated the contest until the final bell. Scores 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.
“I took his soul out of his body,” Dib said to Fightnews.com®. “I boxed him in the early rounds and then started to break him down. I wouldn’t give him any space. I sat on his chest and just broke him down.
“Tran hit me with low blows and was cautioned by the referee. He tried to touch gloves after the fouls but I repaid him for being dirty by connecting with a hard left hook. I kept him on the ropes and worked away at his body and his head.
“I had a ten week preparation for the fight and now I’m 34 years of age and fighting younger fighters, I’ve made some adjustments in my style. I have to keep my hands up higher and stay closer to my opponents.
“I’m waiting to see what happens with the WBC rankings. Amir Khan has a fight coming up in March in Saudi Arabia and I think I’ll be on the undercard.”