MALMESBURY’S Joe Hughes believes that he can topple Tyrone Nurse after securing a fight with the reigning British super-lightweight champion.

The current English title holder will square up against the Yorkshireman at the Leicester Arena on April 22, live on BT Sport and BoxNation, with the Lord Lonsdale strap on the line.

And Hughes is excited to finally get his opportunity to fight for the British crown.

“I’ve been aiming for this fight since I turned pro,” said Hughes, who joined the paid ranks in 2010.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m very excited to get the fight.

“We starting talking with Frank Warren’s team (Nurse’s promoters) a couple of weeks ago but we weren’t really sure that it was going to happen.

“Then last week we got told it was going to happen and that they would be announcing it today.”

The 26-year-old, who reclaimed his English title in December after being stripped of the belt following his defeat to Jack Catterall in a WBO inter-continental title fight, is relishing the chance to showcase his skills on the television once again.

“I’m really excited by that,” said Hughes, who will marry his partner Amy O’Kane next month.

“The more exposure the better. BoxNation has the platform but now it is even bigger by being on BT Sport.

“This will be one of the first live boxing shows on BT Sport and it is going to be great – especially if I win.”

Hughes and Nurse met in their amateur days with the rangy Huddersfield fighter getting the decision that day, but the Wiltshire boxer is confident that he can get the job done this time.

“I’ve been back in training for a little while now,” said Hughes, who has a record of 15 wins from 17 contests.

“I know that I have to make sure that I’m 100 per cent and make sure that I perform at 100 per cent because if I do that I’m confident that I can get the job done.

“Tyrone is a good champion and has defended this belt twice already so I’m sure that he is also confident.

“We fought back in the amateurs, I think we were both 16 or 17 at the time, and he got the decision then.

“We have both improved since then and I’m looking forward to what should be a good fight.”