Wyllie vs Dib Predictions: Warrior Wyllie sizes up Australian boxing’s throne

Aussie hope Jake Wyllie takes on countryman Youssef Dib this Saturday, August 23 live on DAZN. Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Australia will host this 10-round lightweight contest. Former world champion Skye Nicolson has her second bout in quick succession in the chief support. The two-time Olympian stopped Carla Gonzales last month and is back for more against Urvashi Singh.

Here are my Wyllie vs Dib predictions ahead of this thunder from Down Under.

Wyllie vs Dib Odds

Wyllie is your 1/5 favourite for the victory here. Dib is priced at 4/1 for an implied probability metric of 20%. The draw is priced at 16/1.

Wyllie vs Dib Fight Preview

They are calling this one ‘Rise of the Machine’. Presumably because promoters have used the term ‘Judgment Day’ so often they were finally asked to move on to the next Terminator sequel. Wake me up when somebody stages ‘Genisys’.

Wyllie is only 25 years old but has already staked a claim to be Australian boxing’s next male hero. While countrywoman Nicolson continues her comeback on the undercard, Wyllie will be keenly aware of the space opening up on the men’s side of the boxing fence.

Wyllie missed his chance for a clean passing of the torch. But his superb effort in running George Kambosos Jr. close back in March did him more good than harm. Former unified and lineal lightweight champion Kambosos has waved the Aussie flag in recent years as one of their pre-eminent fistic forces. But at 32 and having lost his last three world title fights, ‘Ferocious’ is surely coming to the end.

Australian boxing is cyclical. For every Anthony Mundine and Jeff Fenech, there have been fallow periods. The national scene has at times been dominated by ex-rugby league names in grudge matches that mean more to fans of a different sport. 

Often boxing Down Under has peaked in popularity when their heavyweights have flirted with glory. David Tua knocked everyone out on the way to a points loss to heavyweight king Lennox Lewis in 2000. Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne won the WBA championship in 2016, before a failed PED test saw him stripped of the championship. Australia was denied its first ever heavyweight world title-holder.

Jeff Horn temporarily bucked the trend, though his WBO and lineal welterweight title win over Manny Pacquiao in 2017 is infamous. Horn won via a unanimous decision that nobody in Queensland beyond the three judges would have given. Homecooking? You be the judge. You’d probably do a better job than the three scorers that day.

Horn’s reign was brief and soon the fight game was on the backburner Down Under. But in recent years, Kambosos upset Teofimo Lopez and then brought two big undisputed lightweight title fights to the country. ‘Ferocious’ headlined two huge Melbourne cards at the Marvel Stadium and Rod Laver Arena. Tim Tszyu, son of national idol Kostya, won the WBO super welterweight belt while Jai Opetaia picked up the IBF and The Ring straps at cruiserweight. Aussie boxing was back on the map with barely a rugby legend in sight.

But Kambosos is on the slide, a state of affairs Wyllie nearly took full advantage of. Tszyu is belt-less and has lost three of his last four outings. Opetaia stands tall as the best cruiserweight on the planet, but he is the only Aussie male reigning world champion today.

Will Wyllie get there? Harsh critics will point to a shock second round knockout defeat to 0-2 Faavesi Isaako two years ago as proof that the Queensland man is no Mundine, Fenech or Tua. But eight knockout wins and no defeats showed an evolution. Kambosos was the litmus test and Wyllie showed he belonged, even in defeat.

Can Dib interrupt the possible coronation of a new Aussie king? The former IBF Australasian champion is capable but struggling. Back-to-back bouts with former world title challenger Liam Wilson led to a defeat by knockout followed by another on points. Losing to a world-ranked foe twice in a row has put a cap on Dib’s ambitions.

So Dib comes in as the B-side against a man who nearly shocked the world against Kambosos. The 32-year-old knows all about fighters from this part of the world landing top honours. His brother Billy Dib is a former IBF featherweight champion. A win here is vital if Youssef is ever to match his sibling’s achievements.

It is clear that Matchroom see Australian dollar signs in Wyllie. The Queenslander gave Kambosos conniptions on five day’s notice. Like he did with Josh Padley after his last-minute display against pound-for-pounder Shakur Stevenson, a contract was forthcoming for Wyllie after that display. A win in a DAZN headliner here will propel him into bigger bouts. The future of Australian boxing is now.

Wyllie vs Dib Full Card

Jake Wyllie vs Youssef Dib

Skye Nicolson vs Carla Gonzales

Wyllie vs Dib Prediction

Wyllie is a puncher, with 16 of his 17 wins coming by knockout. Dib loves a scrap, which is why despite being stopped in the first Wilson fight, he was granted a rematch. The Sydney man does not have the same pop in his shots, but 11 knockouts in 21 bouts shows he is not completely pillow-fisted.

This is a fight I see taking place at close quarters. That favours Wyllie, even though I think he is made to work harder than usual. I’m picking Wyllie to stop his man late, knocking out Dib in rounds 9-10 at 13/2.

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