Two-times WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide has laid down the gauntlet to British title holder Danny Williams.
Hide, who has not fought since 2001, is launching an audacious bid to reclaim the British crown.
Williams failed to take the European heavyweight title from Sinan Samil Sam last week after the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round.
And Hide believes the time is right for him to take on his former sparring partner.
"It didn't surprise me that Williams lost," said Hide.
"It has only made me more determined to come face to face with him in the ring.
"He thought he would no longer have to defend his title against me but he couldn't be more wrong."
The 31-year-old lost his last major fight to the limited Zambian Joseph Chingangu after being stopped in the second round.
HIDE'S WBO RECORD
1994: Beat Michael Bentt to win crown
1995: Lost title to Riddick Bowe
1997: Beat Tony Tucker for vacant crown
1999: Lost title to Vitali Klitschko
If he had beaten Chingangu his next bout would have seen him challenge Williams for the British and Commonwealth belts.
"I lost my last fight by default, it is as simple as that," Hide argued.
"It has bugged me ever since and left me with some unfinished business to do."
Hide, who has faced Riddick Bowe and Vitali Klitschko in the ring, has been training in Las Vegas with Mike Tyson's camp.
He believes he has been overshadowed by Williams and Olympic champion Audley Harrison but is adamant when it comes to boxing ability he is head and shoulders above the rest.
"I'm the only true heavyweight in this country that has any class on the world stage.
"I've won two world titles against two top-rated fighters and earned millions from my early days as British champion right through to my international and world titles."
The "Dancing Destroyer" now wants to take his case to the British Boxing Board of Control.
He will ask them to appoint him as number one contender to Williams' crown.
Hide, who is preparing for a fight in America, plans to return to Norwich so he can turn his attention to the British crown.