Billy Dib © AP

IBF featherweight champion Bill “The Kid” Dib (33-1, 20 KOs) will have mandatory title defense against Mexico’s Eduardo “Canilla” Escobedo (32-3, 23 KOs) on March 7 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Dib captured the vacant title in 2011, with a clear cut decision, over highly regarded Mexican–Jorge Lacierva. Dib followed that with a sensational KO in round one over Italy’s Alberto Servidei; in a title defense.

Dib’s only loss, in 2008, to Steve Luevano of a WBO title attempt.Escobedo is coming off a second round KO win over Joksan Hernandez last July but in 2007 lost a WBO super bantamweight title bout to Daniel Ponce De Leon by decision. In 2004 Moises Zamudio stopped Escobedo in five rounds. Escobedo resides in Jarell, Texas and born in Mexico City in 1984. Dib was born in Sydney in 1985 and stands 5.71/2″ – Escobedo stands 5.7″. Dib trained by Billy Hussein. Escobedo trained by Ignacio Beristan.