HARRY Dhami leant back in an armchair at his home in Trinity Road, Gravesend, sipped some orange juice, and contemplated his future and, if his bosses will excuse him this momentary lapse of work-place loyalty, it was not the start of his afternoon shift at AEI

Cables where he was due back on Monday.

Dhami, who last week scored a wide-margin points win over Spencer McCracken to retain his British Welterwight title, has his sights set firmly on two major objectives.

He said: I want the Lonsdale belt to be my own for keeps and I need to defend my title once more successfully. So, Im planning a voluntary defence, hopefully in February or March.

I will also have to make a mandatory defence and the British Boxing Board of Control will nominate someone for me to fight, but I have six months in which to do that.

Dhamis win over the battle-hardened McCracken in his own backyard at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre was a victory for guile and style over sweat and toil.

Referee John Keane scored it 118-111 in Dhamis favour, and the fight-facts revealed the true picture Dhami delivering 223 points-scoring blows to McCrackens 141 and winning nine and losing just two of the 12 rounds on the fight officials card. And, by the ninth round, McCracken had come to a virtual standstill.

The shorter-built McCracken wanted to come inside and fight at close quarters, but Dhamis metronomic-like left-hand jab kept his opponent at arms length while scoring heavily in most rounds.

McCracken left the ring battered, bruised, bloodied and totally exhausted. He was never likely to surrender in the ring, but no sooner had he got out of it than he was announcing he was was hanging up his gloves for the last time. Dhami had, quite literally, beaten him into retirement.

But Dhamis win did come at some cost. He suffered a cut over his left eye, albeit from an accidental clash of heads, and an injury to his right hand.

Dhami said: In the fifth round I caught McCracken with a couple of hard punches and I sensed he was rocking. So I stepped up the pressure but, as I went for a big right-hander, he turned and ducked sideways and my fist thudded into his hip.

At that moment, pain shot up my arm and I had to resort to my original game-plan for the remainder of the fight.

My hand was pretty swollen for a couple of days and I plan to see a Harley Street specialist to make sure theres no lasting problems.

So, how did Dhami feel when he entered the electric-charged atmosphere in Birmingham, especially after McCracken had said some uncomplimentary things about him in the pre-fight build up in a local paper.

Dhami said: The atmosphere was unbelievable and despite the fact that I had supporters there, the overwhelming majority of spectators were fanatically behind their local man. Ive never fought anywhere so exciting before and that includes Wembley.

But the adrenaline rush and the desire to show them just how good I am was my inspiration, as much as wanting to ram his words in the press back down his throat.

But Ive always had to do things the hard way by taking on opponents on their own patch its just my way.

So whats Dhamis other major objective?

Immediately after the fight, speculation mounted that Dhami, the first-ever Britain of Asian origin to hold a boxing title, would be paired with Nottinghams Jawaid Khaliq, who won the vacant Commonwealth Welterweight title on the same bill with a 119-110 points win over New Zealander Sean Sullivan.

Dhami said: Theres a lot of hype about me fighting Khalig but, in truth, he needs to fight me more than I do him.

Off course, there is still a good chance we will meet, but Im after a world title fight. Thats my dream. I know Im capable of winning it and, remember, youve not seen the best of Harry Dhami yet.

Dhami concluded: No matter how good you are, you always need people who are prepared to put their faith in you.

My employers AEI, my sponsors Blyth Leisure and the fans have been absolutely tremendous, not just now but for the past couple of years as well, and I owe them all a massive thank you.