Livefight.com caught up with exciting prospect and all round good guy Alex Dilmaghani recently.
The 19-year old southpaw is currently signed with Hatton Promotions with a record of 5-0 and is already making a splash amongst the hardcore boxing followers for his obvious skills.
Listed as a lightweight, he has fought much heavier opponents to give him the experience - but will soon be breaking out onto the British lightweight scene over the next 18 months.
We pitched a few questions over to him about his career to date, his interests and future career aspirations:
LF: Like Nathan Cleverly, you have a bright head on your shoulders -yet are currently doing something called 'studying'. Can you give us a bit of background on that ?
(laughs) I wish it was all dossing around!!
I am currently studying Computer Science at Brighton University.
LF: Joking aside, So what of things outside of boxing do you enjoy doing Alex?
I like to relax with friends and family, go out and socialise, watch boxing.... and play on the playstation. The usual kind of things.
LF: So what got you started in boxing Alex ?
I was always interested in boxing from a young age, I remember watching fights like Tyson vs Holyfield, Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley etc. All the big builds up, the public debating and generally talking about the big fights - all arguing who will win !
I was always drawn to boxing from an early age. My mum though always wanted me to channel my enthusiasm and aggression in positive way. I think I was about 12 when I first put on the gloves.
LF: So with regards your training schedule, who do you train under and how often are you in the gym at the moment ?
My trainer is Ronnie Davies. I live and breathe training. I'm always the first in and usually the last out. In my opinion boxing is a very serious sport and therefore has to be taken seriously. You can't go about this business half heartedly if you want to reach your goals. I typically do roadwork 6 times a week and now with studies, I train in the ring every week day Monday to Friday from about 11am until around 2pm in the afternoon.
LF: Have you sparred any ‘names’ yet and how did you rate the experience ?
I've sparred Henry Castle since i was sixteen, he's a real good strong fighter and i learnt from a young age how to deal with a seasoned professional. I learnt a lot from him. I've also sparred Rendall Munroe recently and that was also very fulfilling. Rendall is very strong for his weight class and has a tremendous team around him in the Shinfields. They are very nice people. We worked well together and hopefully we'll work some more.
LF: So you turned professional in 2009 with your first 2 fights being dominations of seasoned veterans in Baz Carey and Daniel Thorpe. Since then you’ve had two more dominations of Jason Nesbit and Sergey Rozhakmens. Between all of them they had over 300 fights and over a 1500 rounds. Yet none could take a point off you. For a rookie professional with a brief but promising amateur career that is very impressive Alex. So what have you mainly learned so far in your career during the first year ?
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it. I'm always looking and learning. Watching boxing is a passion of mine, so I enjoy watching what the very best in the sport are doing well at - and then I try to work on putting that into my own game.
LF: At 19 you will still be growing physically but are listed at lightweight. At 5’8 do you think you’ll be comfortable making weight at 135lb or do you envisage moving up to light-welter ?
I know i'm being picky, but I'm more 5 ft 9 actually (laughs). I make weight very easy and I actually eat a lot, but I eat very healthy, when I'm in training I don't eat no junk food, no chocolate whatsoever, I just eat good and train hard. 135lb is no problem - especially the day before. I think though given the age I am, your probably right and my body will grow into the 140lb division so I will most likely be campaigning at light welter in a few years.
LF: Domestically, who have you got in your sights that you believe you can eclipse in the immediate future ?
I don't have my sights on any particular fighter at this moment in time. Boxing is a job to me right now, nothing personal in there, so whoever Hatton Promotions put in front of me, I'll fight and I'll beat. With regards the immediate future, It's all about the learning curve - But I'd like to fight for the English title sometime next year, so whoever has that next year I'll be setting my sights on.
LF: So who are your domestic heroes in the sport today then? The fighters you look forward to watching and admire at present ?
Domestically of all time it has to be Naseem Hamed, Michael Gomez and Ricky Hatton.
Naseem Hamed for the reason that he was unique, he brought something different to the sport, with his loud entrances and his very own style. Michael Gomez- a true blood and guts warrior, a throwback "fight anyone any time" kind of warrior who was never in a dull fight. Finally it's got to be Ricky Hatton. Who is again, a warrior. Always in exciting fights, Ricky brought back interest in the sport when fighters like Naz, Eubank, Benn and lewis left.
To think the amount of people who travelled half way across the world to watch him fight is an accomplishment in itself. He's done a lot for the sport of boxing in this country. I like Carl Froch a lot currently, he has a never say die attitude, he's another throwback. The Taylor fight was a great comeback. I also look forward to watching fighters like Cello Renda, he's again always in exciting fights, a nice guy too.
LF: And what about on the World scene ?
Of all time, Roberto Duran is my idol. With regards the current world scene I would say Jorge Arce, Miguel Cotto, Mayorga, Hopkins and Mosley always interest me.
LF: Pound for Pound... who do you rate at present for the number 1 slot ?
We'll find out November if they can nail the negotiations !
LF: In closing, when can we expect to see you next time and is their anything you’d like to tell the boxing public and your fans out there?
I'm scheduled to fight on July's Hatton show, so look out for me there.And I'd just like to say thanks for all the kind words and support from all the boxing fans out there to date. It motivates me to train much harder !
LF: Thanks Alex and good luck.
No problems, anytime.