Norwich's Sam Sexton says he will beat Hughie Fury in the first defence of his British heavyweight title – and is targeting a world title shot against the winner of this weekend's mega clash between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.

Sexton faces Fury in Bolton in May, knowing victory could secure a dream world title shot.

After achieving his dream of lifting the Lonsdale belt with victory over Gary Cornish in Edinburgh in october, Sexton now wants to cap his career with a world title opportunity.

'A world title chance is every boxer's dream, that's what we all aim for in this sport and that's what I'm going for,' said the 33-year-old.

'It's at the top of my agenda and what's motivating me to beat Fury in his backyard on May 12.

'I've been in this business for a long time and I know that this is now the moment for me. I need that win over Fury more than anything and then I'm in strong position to press my case,'

'I'll be disappointed if I go my whole career without challenging for a world title, so I have to keep winning and crucially retain my title against Fury which will be a hard and tough fight.'

Fury's last outing was a controversial world title challenge defeat against Parker in September – a fight Sexton believes Fury actually won.

'I thought that Hughie just nicked it against Parker,' Sexton said. 'It was a tight one and a hard one to score, but I thought he should have got the nod at the end.

'Fury will be out to prove himself and he desperately wants to get back in the world title frame so I'm fully aware that he'll be looking to do a number on me and I'll be ready for him. Both our futures hinge on this fight and with so much on the line only one of us will go through and I've got to make sure that person is me.'

Sexton is backing Joshua's size and strength to power him to victory on Saturday night in Cardiff against Parker.

'I see an Anthony Joshua win,' he said. 'Parker's a very tough fighter, but Joshua is just too big and strong for him. He's a bulldozer and I think he'll get to Parker in the middle rounds, six or seven.

'If I was Parker I'd tell him to stick close to Joshua and keep the pressure and high work rate on him and not let him rest.'