Boxer Billy Dib finds peace with new wife and son

There was a time Billy Dib thought he’d never hold a child of his own. The Sydney boxer felt as though a lifetime relationship and children would pass him by.

Boxer Billy Dib fights again in Australia next week. Photo: Tim Pascoe

There was a time boxer Billy Dib thought he’d never hold a child of his own.

His hands, having pounded so many bags, pads and rivals’ bloody flesh for his entire adult life, yearned to touch the skin of a baby he could know was his own flesh and blood.

Tragedy struck in 2015 when his wife Sara was diagnosed with leukaemia and ­suddenly passed away eight weeks later.

Nine months later, Dib married for a second time, but that union ended acrimoniously a short time on.

It was then that Dib felt as though a lifetime relationship and children would pass him by.

“I did, because I’d been through so much,” Dib said.

“I’d been engaged in the past before that, then finally found the one who I thought was my future. God had other plans for her, she passed away.

“Then I made a very stupid decision in my life, feeling that I needed to move on in order to put the past behind.

“Unfortunately I made a mistake in getting remarried so quickly.

“Eventually when that ended, I said ‘I’m in a place of peace now, I’m just going to rest and let my mind recover’.

“I took some time off and went to see a shrink, I’m not ashamed to say it.

“She said to me, ‘You just need to concentrate on yourself, stop trying to look for love and be like everyone else’.

“Because everyone else around me, my cousins, my relatives, were all getting married, having kids, so I kind of felt like I was getting left behind. I listened to the shrink, spent some time by myself, tried to get myself mentally stable, and then through the grace of God I met Berry.”

Boxer Billy Dib. Photo: Tim Pascoe

Dib met and married Berry last year, and three weeks ago, on November 21, she gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Laith.

“Things have never looked so good,” Dib said.

“She’s been so supportive about everything that’s happened, she has no problem at all talking about Sara and about the things that have happened in my past, she’s very supportive and always says the right things, which is amazing.

“Now I’m at such a high point in my life; married, I have baby Laith, he makes me so happy, the only thing I can do is smile.

Biily Dib, wife Berry and son Laith.

“Every time I look at him, and then look at Berry, I’m like, ‘I really love you, we did this together’. The love I have for Berry is unbelievable, she’s such a strong woman, she made me really proud on the day she gave birth, she did not use any profanities, she was so calm, and praying for her friends and all those trying to have kids at that time, asking God for help, she was just so beautiful.

“Being blessed with 16 nieces and nephews, I know what love is. But this is love on a whole other level.

“When I see this kid, he makes me smile 24/7.

“Everything I do from this point on is for him and for Berry. I’m going to fight like I’ve got to put bread on the table. When you’ve got a fighter with that mindset, I’m ­coming really prepared.”

So Dib returns to the ring next Saturday night at Hurstville Entertainment Centre, against undefeated Vietnamese fighter Van Thao Tran (12-0, 8KO), to be broadcast on pay-per-view streaming ­service Epicentre TV. This is five months after he was stopped by British welterweight superstar Amir Khan — having vowed to retire in August 2018 — making Dib’s ­record 45-6 (26 KO).

“Coming off the Saudi Arabia fight against Amir Khan, I knew what I was going up against,” Dib said.

Billy Dib was stopped by British welterweight superstar Amir Khan.

“On the night of the fight before we got in the ring, the WBC weighed us and I weighed 65kg and he weighed 77kg. So I knew what I was up against.

“But financially it was a great move for me.

“Now I’m moving back down to super-featherweight. This has nothing to do with trying to get back to a world title fight.”

Not often will an athlete admit he’s only competing for money, but after a storied career including world championships, he’s cashing in on the opportunities in Saudi Arabia, where last week the $167 million heavyweight title rematch was held between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr.

“I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved in boxing, I’m a two-time world champion, my career has been going strong since 2004, I’ve been in boxing for a long time and competing at the highest stage,” Dib said.

“This presents a challenge on the 21st, he is an undefeated fighter, young up-and-comer, and he knows if he can put my scalp on his resume that’s a big name for him.

Billy Dib is preparing to fight undefeated Vietnamese fighter Van Thao Tran. Photo: Tim Pascoe

“But to be honest with you, the only reason I’m doing it is because there’s another big opportunity for me in Saudi Arabia in March, but I need to get a win.

“So this is an opportunity for me to get back in the win column to lock away the March date (potentially against Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr). Again, Saudi Arabia is great for me because financially it helps set things up and now with the birth of my child, that’s all that motivates me.

“It’s another great payday, a great amount of money that helps me set up my child for the future.

“Everything I do now is for my wife and my kid.”

One month to the day he first touched his son, Dib will be using his hands for ­destructive purposes.

“I’ve got to take these opportunities where I can,” he said.

“I’m still fit, I’m still healthy, I’m not slurring my words so I’m doing OK, and I’m going out on the 21st to put on a dynamite performance.”

Originally published as Boxer Billy Dib finds peace with new wife and son