Dib’s camp has held in-depth discussions with undefeated WBA Super World featherweight champion Chris John with both parties all but agreeing to a fight in Sydney in July. ‘‘I want people to know that I’m keen on that fight and that I’m not the one saying no,’’ said Dib who won the IBO super featherweight title in 2008. ‘‘We have a verbal agreement but he has a fight in April so if he wins that we should see him here in July.’’

All that stands in the way of Dib and a world title shot is the unbeaten Lorenzo Villanueva, ranked No.5 in the WBO.

Dib, who is inside the top five in the IBF, will challenge Villanueva for his WBO Oriental featherweight title in March.

‘‘My concentration and respect is on Lorenzo,’’ Dib said. ‘‘There’s one thing about me, I’m still very focused because I’ve been there first-hand to see Shane Mosley lose to Miguel Cotto because he was talking about fighting Floyd Mayweather jnr while preparing for the Cotto fight.’’

The fight against the highly fancied Villanueva will be Dib’s toughest since suffering the only loss in his career in a WBO world title fight against Steven Luevano in 2008.

Since then Dib, 25 — in his own appraisal — has matured.

He said last year was a rebuilding phase and the most active of his career. He had six fights — for six knockout victories.

‘‘I’m not saying I’m getting old but I felt time was running away and I needed to pick it up and get rated properly,’’ Dib said.

‘‘I fought a few mediocre opponents and a few hard fights but it was a good way to come into 2011. You’ll see me fight three or four times this year with longer breaks in between.’’

Villanueva, of the Philippines, has won 17 of his 18 fights by knockout.

‘‘On paper he has fought some solid opposition but no one like me,’’ Dib said.

‘‘He is still raw and I’m seasoned.

‘‘There have been a lot of doubters in the past who have said that I’m not going to reach my full potential but I’m going to show them.