Alex Dalmaghani believes he is more than capable of mixing it with the world's very best boxers in the featherweights and super-featherweights divisions after his exceptional performance at York Hall, last Saturday, writes Ziad Chaudry.

 

The 28-year-old from Crayford came agonisingly short of clinching the IBO World super-featherweight title after his fascinating encounter with Nicaragua's Francisco Fonseca which fought in such blistering pace ended in a majority draw.

 

In a decision that could have went either way it was too close to call but Howard Foster was brave enough to gave it 115-114 to previously two-time world title challenger Fonseca, 29, while Pawel Kardyni and Roberto Ramirez Jr both scored it 114-each. 

 

But Dalmaghani, who recorded his first draw in his 22-fight record, believes he did more than enough to win the bout which was televised live on Channel 5.

 

"I thought I won,"'he said. "I thought the cleaner work came from myself. When he was drying I was catching him a lot so it is what it is. 

 

"I felt a bit stale because I've been out of the ring  for six months but I thought I won, I thought I did enough."

 

Dilmaghani was cut above the left eye by a clash of heads in the ninth but despite the  scare he battled on and come through the twelve rounder.

 

"The cut kind of headed me a bit so to be honest I couldn't see out of it," he continued. "It's the fight game, these things happen but I'm glad the crowd was entertained. It was a great fight for Channel 5 and the fans. 

 

"I've got a good pace, he had a good pace so I knew it was going to be an all action fight. 

 

"I expect him to be strong. He took on Gervonta Davis (WBA world champion) on two weeks notice and it was a hell of a fight also Tevin Farmer (IBF world champion). He's a well respected world class fighter. I've proved that I'm that level beyond now. We're  both world class fighters and we put on a world class fight on terrestrial tv. This is what true world class boxing is all about."

 

Dilmaghani, who is promoted by well-respected Mick Hennessy, is pretty keen to get another world level contest as soon as possible including a rematch with Fonseca. One of the options he could take is to go down to featherweight, a weight he believes he can easily adapt, and meet WBO world champion from Leeds Frank Warren-promoted Josh Warrington in an all-British encounter which will certainly attract rival TV paymasters Channel 5 and BT Sport also the loyal fight fans.

 

"I'm world class and I've proved that," Dilmaghani added. "Fonseca is a world class fighter, he's proving that he is a world class fighter. I won that fight, a lot of people say I won that fight. Either way I fought a world class fighter who is dangerous. 

 

"But I'll do it again. I don't mind who I fighting a true fighter. I don't moan who I fight I don't care who I fight, featherweight is an option still. Mick Hennessy tells me a fight and he makes the date."