MALMESBURY fighter Joe Hughes wants to be made mandatory challenger for Tyrone Nurse’s British super-lightweight title after proving he is worthy of the belt last weekend.

The 26-year-old went toe-to-toe with the defending champion in Leicester last Saturday and felt hard done by when the judges’ decision, after 12 rounds, was a draw.

Despite claims of gamesmanship in the build-up, including being given the wrong size gloves and the wrong entrance music at the Leicester Arena, Hughes did not let it affect him.

Heading into the ring, Nurse, who had not fought since September, was the odds-on favourite - and with talks of world title shots further down the line, saw Hughes as a necessary stepping stone.

However, Hughes used that to his advantage and took the fight to his opponent in the early rounds, rubbishing claims of him tiring later on, with his corner confident the fight had gone his way.

“I wouldn’t say I was pleased, I was very disappointed in the end,” he said.

“The fight went well, the actual performance, but the result didn’t go the way I thought it should have, or anybody there seemed to think it should have.

“I thought we put the pressure on him straight away and then we were planning on mixing it up, so I did a bit of boxing at long range and kept trying to keep it fresh, which I thought it was working.

“When I was boxing (at range), people were saying it was because I was tired or starting to lose, whereas in my head, I was still on top and just doing it in a different style.

“Because he is tall and long and I’m obviously shorter than him, the only way I can be winning is if I come in close, even though I was still landing more shots and better shots.

“Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was a close fight still but I felt on top by two or three rounds and then for one of the judges to then give it three rounds to him, was just crazy.”

Hughes’ training camp was hampered by an elbow injury, but apart from a badly bruised hand, he says he will be fine with some rest and only has eyes on claiming a crown that he feels should already be around his waist.

“The rematch, if that’s there, then we’ll hopefully go for that, if not, I don’t really know. I just want to get another shot at the belt,” he added.

“I want to get my hands on that British title. I feel like that should have happened already but obviously it hasn’t and that’s all I want.

“I feel like I’m definitely good enough to win and have proven that, it’s just getting that chance again.”