HUGHIE Fury makes no apologies for having loftier ambitions than the Lonsdale Belt.

Fighting for the first time since a shock defeat to WBO title holder Joseph Parker last September, the heavyweight sees his British title fight at the Macron Stadium as a necessary step in his bid to get back on the global stage.

Standing in his way on May 12 will be Sam Sexton, the experienced former Commonwealth title holder who picked up the British belt in October.

The Parker defeat clearly still sticks in Fury’s craw - but after being dragged into a ‘back to basics’ training camp in the Lakes by his father and trainer Peter Fury, the 23-year-old feels he is ready to push on again.

“If it means taking three steps back to take four forward, so be it.” he said. “I’m feeling great about the fight. I’m looking forward to having the British title.

“You can’t underestimate Sam Sexton but I think I should do it easy enough, it should be a great night.

“These are the fights I want now. I want to be in the ring more regularly and hopefully will be again in a month. The more the merrier for me now.

“All over Christmas I have been working on things I don’t normally do – I think you’ll see a big difference on May 12 and see the improvements.”

Fury, who knows the lie of the Bolton land as his family own a gym on Halliwell Road, says he has struggled to find suitable opponents in the last few months.

But spurred on by the first real dent in his professional record he is confident of putting on a performance in a fight which will be aired live on Channel Five.

“I;m not messing about,” he said. “I am 100 per cent ready to move up to a world title fight again. I’d do it tomorrow.

“I want to get this one out of the way and move on to that higher class.”

Tickets for the fight on May 12 are available from the Bolton Wanderers official website priced between £40 and £80.