Dib loses IBF title on split decision A devastated Billy Dib may exercise the option of a rematch clause, after he lost his IBF featherweight boxing world title to Russian Evgeny Gradovich in an upset in Connecticut. Making his third defence, Sydneysider Dib (35-2, 21 KOs) dropped a 12-round split decision to Gradovich (16-0, 8 KOs) at the Foxwoods Resort on Saturday afternoon (AEDT). Gradovich outworked Dib over the second half of the fight and the deposed champion's management had no complaints about the scoring. Robert Garcia, who trained Luevano that night, was also in Gradovich's corner, as the 11th-ranked challenger completed a fairytale after taking the fight at short notice. Dib 27, got off to good start in the first couple of rounds as he looked to impress in his first American fight since the loss to Luevano. Gradovich 26, gained in confidence as the bout progressed and particularly after he sent Dib reeling with a powerful left hook in the fifth. Gradovich, who had never gone beyond 10 rounds, landed some big shots in the last two rounds and his greater power punch output proved decisive. "He gave us what he expected a hard tough fight," Dib's brother and manager Emaid Dib told AAP from Connecticut. To Gradovich's credit he fought out of his skin, he really fought well. We've got a rematch clause and Billy will be back. Asked if he thought his brother would exercise the rematch option Emaid said: "I hope so. He's just devastated as you can imagine. He went in there, he tried hard. Dib was accidentally cut by an elbow near his left ear early in the fight and finished the contest with blood pouring from a wound near his right eye. "Billy has pulled up well," Emaid Dib said. He's got a couple of cuts, some were from head butts, some from punches. But nothing a couple of stitches can't fix. Dib's headlined the first card by the new promotional company of his manager, American rapper 50 Cent, who delivered a song as he accompanied the Australian on his walk into the ring.