Paulo Aokuso is Billy Dib’s pick to make the next major international breakthrough from Australia’s emerging boxing talent, but the former world champion wants that promise developed patiently. Speaking on Raw Sport, Dib praised Aokuso’s speed, power and flair while cautioning against pushing him straight into the toughest fights at light heavyweight.
Asked to choose one standout from the country’s rising fighters, Dib selected Aokuso ahead of a group he also wants to see succeed. His enthusiasm was clear: he sees an unusually gifted boxer whose skills could translate to much bigger opportunities. Yet his forecast came with a qualification. Aokuso should keep building, with the right opposition at the right time, rather than have his potential treated as proof that he is ready for every challenge.
Dib pointed to the value of an experienced corner and No Limit’s backing in helping that progression. He also entertained a future meeting with Ben Whittaker as an attractive possibility, explicitly placing it further down the road. The distinction matters to his assessment: Aokuso’s ceiling excites him, while the immediate task remains adding experience and developing towards that level.
The wider conversation explored how Australia’s prospects should be matched. Dib welcomed the resistance Callum Peters encountered in his latest outing, arguing that being tested can help a young fighter improve. He was more reserved about judging Kirra Ruston before seeing how he responds against an opponent who can seriously test him. Impressive stoppages, in Dib’s view, leave questions that tougher competition must eventually answer.
That raised the appeal of domestic rivalries. Dib recalled the lasting interest in Australian fighters facing each other, while also recognising the commercial logic of building prospects along separate paths before bringing them together. His comments captured a tension in developing talent: fans want meaningful local contests, while promoters may see greater value in allowing those match-ups to grow.
Tim Tszyu’s exchange with Jermell Charlo offered another example of a rivalry being built. Dib interpreted the verbal sparring as groundwork for a possible future contest, dependent on Tszyu getting past Erislandy Lara and Charlo overcoming Brock Jarvis. He praised the opportunities being created for Australian boxing through the Gold Coast card, although he questioned how much the headline names’ recent activity justified some of the surrounding hype.
Paul Gallen’s legacy prompted one of Dib’s strongest assessments. He credited Gallen with attracting large audiences and helping create the platform on which Tszyu became a bigger attraction. However, Dib argued that Anthony Mundine remained Australia’s outstanding crossover athlete when judging boxing achievement. It was a firm personal ranking, alongside his acknowledgement of Gallen’s commercial contribution to the sport.
Reviewing Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s knockout of Gallen, Dib saw improvement in timing, distance and the calculation behind his work. He praised the performance while leaving open how far that development might take him. On Ahmad Reda’s win over Jake Wyllie, Dib highlighted Reda’s determination under pressure and supported exploring super featherweight if Reda could make the weight.
Liam Paro’s composure during the build-up to facing Devin Haney also earned Dib’s approval. He felt Paro handled the press conference professionally and rated his boxing intelligence, speed and strength. Dib backed his countryman while describing the contest as difficult for both fighters, keeping his support separate from any suggestion that the outcome was assured.
Across the episode, Dib’s optimism rested on both opportunity and preparation. He sees Australian fighters gaining valuable exposure and Aokuso as a particularly exciting prospect. His advice was to give that talent room to mature: the bigger stage is the ambition, but the steps taken towards it still matter.