Australia’s Billy Dib has retained his IBF featherweight world title, with Mexican challenger Eduardo Escobedo calling off the fight after the sixth round in Hobart.
Escobedo had called Dib a “little pussy” in the lead-up but Dib relentlessly attacked his opponent, unleashing a flurry of punches in the fifth and sixth rounds before the smaller Mexican’s camp signalled the fight was over.
Escobedo went down in the first round but it was the result of a low blow from Dib, who earned the ire of the referee with repeated warnings.
It didn’t faze Dib, who celebrated wildly with his supporters after the victory.
The 26-year-old known as ‘Billy the Kid’ notched a 14th straight win in his second defence of the title he first won last year against Mexican Jorge Lacierva.
The Sydneysider’s record now stands at 34-1.
Dib was desperate to impress in the high profile double-header with fellow Australian Daniel Geale, and is now likely to take his talents back to the US for a tilt at the big money fights.
His management is eyeing a showdown with the winner of this weekend’s WBO title rematch between Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez and Mexico’s Orlando Salido.
Dib’s fight was to be immediately followed by Geale’s second defence of his IBF middleweight crown against US-based Ghanaian challenger Osumanu Adama.
Veteran Australian Kali Meehan lost his IBF pan-Pacific heavyweight title, his corner throwing in the towel in the sixth round of his bout with American Travis Walker.