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Hughie Fury eager to set up Anthony Joshua fight with Kubrat Pulev win

Hughie Fury lands a right shot on Joseph Parker during their WBO world heavyweight title fight at Manchester Arena. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Hughie Fury hopes victory on Saturday will set up his dream fight against Anthony Joshua in April next year.

The cousin of world heavyweight title challenger Tyson Fury faces Kubrat Pulev in an eliminator for the IBF world heavyweight title, one of the three belts held by Joshua.

Fury (21-0, 11 KOs), 24, says he saw faults in Joshua's seventh round knockout win over Alexander Povetkin last month and is aiming to put himself in contention to be the WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion's next opponent at Wembley Stadium, London, on Apr. 13.

"Anthony Joshua is 100 per cent the target and I believe that is the fight that is meant to be," Fury said.

"My main concern is Pulev, but the Joshua fight is the fight I want. Against Povetkin he looked very vulnerable especially early on, open to a lot of shots and he got hurt a bit.

"When I was watching Joshua against Povetkin I was rubbing my hands and looking forward to fighting him.

"I'd face him straight away. I'd take it in a heartbeat. That Wembley date would have my name written all over it.

"100 per cent I'm a stadium fighter. I wouldn't be in this business if I didn't think I could become world champion.

"If the Joshua fight doesn't happen for a while, I will take whoever is put in front of me."

Fury, who was outpointed by New Zealand's Joseph Parker just over a year ago in a shot at the WBO belt, must silence Pulev's home crowd at the Arena Armeec, Sofia, Bulgaria to stay in contention for a second world title shot.

Pulev (25-1, 13 KOs), 37, has not fought for 18 months after pulling out of a fight with Joshua in Cardiff a year ago.

Fury believes that time out of the ring will be to his advantage.

"The layoff won't have helped him," Fury said.

"My speed will definitely get the better of a man of that size. We've got everything covered: if he comes for a fight, if he comes for a boxing match, I will be ready."

Fury has registered one win since losing to Parker, who went on to be out-pointed by Joshua earlier this year.

He stopped Sam Sexton in five rounds to become British champion in May and is the IBF's second highest ranked boxer behind Pulev.

His cousin Tyson fights Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles on Dec. 1, while another member of the family has also joined the boxing dynasty.

Tommy Fury -- Tyson's younger brother and Hughie's cousin -- will make his professional debut before the end of the year after signing a promotional deal with Frank Warren.

The youngest fighter in the family, Fury is on the undercard of Josh Warrington's world title defence against Carl Frampton in Manchester, England on Dec. 22.

The light heavyweight, who has sparred with Hughie, will be trained by former world champion Ricky Hatton, and says his ultimate ambition is also to be a world champion.

"It's a big name to live up to but I don't feel any added pressure on myself because of it, I know that I will make my own name in this sport," Tommy Fury told frankwarren.com.

"I regularly spar with Hughie and his sparring partners and I know I am more suited to the pro game.

"I want to be world champion, I think if you're turning pro that has to be what you are aiming to achieve."