Hughie Fury claims he is one of boxing's top five heavyweights — even though he has not won a world title.
Fury lost his only shot at one of the championship belts to then-WBO king Joseph Parker in 2017, and was also beaten by former world-title challenger Kubrat Pulev in October.
Yet he insists he has already proved he is one of the best fighters in the division.
Fury faces former WBC champ Samuel Peter in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday and is adamant he will fulfil his dream of becoming world champion.
“I put myself in the top five in the world,” he said. “I’m coming out now and doing it. I’ll get this fight out of the way and then whoever wants it, I’m ready for them. I’m not afraid to fight anyone.
“I would not be in this game if I didn’t think I had the beating of them all to become world champion. That’s my mentality. I’m a boxer to become world champion. That’s my goal and I believe I will get there.
“I would back myself against any of the other top fighters in the world and hopefully these are the fights we’re going to get.”
Fury, 24, still maintains he beat Parker and says he lost to Pulev because a cut he suffered above his left eye in sparring re-opened early in the fight.
“It’s not about me getting back, I believe I beat Parker,” said the Traveller. “I believe I should already be world champion and it’s all to do with politics.
“Then I took the fight with Pulev and had a bit of bad luck there. I went over there to his backyard with an injury. With the cut and everything, the fight went the way it did. No-one gives me the credit I deserve for what I’ve done so far.
“I don’t need to prove anything. I believe I’m right at the top. I’m fighting Samuel Peter next, I want to get him out of the way and see what comes next. I do believe I’m right up there and I’m going to prove it.”
