JOE Hughes says that he will ask the British Boxing Board of Control to make him mandatory for Tyrone Nurse’s super-lightweight crown after the pair battled to a majority draw at the Leicester Arena on Saturday night.

The Malmesbury fighter, who relinquished his English title to fight for the British crown, felt that he had done enough to bring the Lonsdale strap back to Wiltshire.

However, with ringside judges Phil Edwards scoring the contest in 116-13 in favour of champion Nurse, Dave Parris giving the nod to Hughes (115-113), Steve Gray judged the contest all-square at 115-115.

Hughes, who believes Nurse will want to go again, told iFLTTV.co.uk: “I thought that I just edged it. I thought that it was a good fight and I’m sure that he probably thinks the same. But what can you do?”

“It was a good fight and we both had good moments. I thought I just nicked it.

“That is why I’d like (to be made mandatory), I don’t think that there is a mandatory for light-welterweight (super-lightweight) for Tyrone’s title.

“He does have to beat a mandatory to win the title outright, so maybe that will give him a reason to fight me again.

“I’m sure he will want to fight me again, it is whether the people around him, the promoters, will want to take the fight.

“They thought that it would be a walk over for him, it wasn’t, but I’m sure Tyrone would (do it again). We will see.

“We will ask the board to make me mandatory.”

With many writing off Hughes’ chances before the fight had even begun, the diminutive 26-year-old joked that he may even train should he get to face 5ft 11in Nurse again.

“I didn’t train for the fight because he said that he was going to beat me so easily, he was going to win by a mile – with the bookies he was 1-9 on to win - what was the point?” added Hughes. “Maybe I’ll train if I get a rematch.

“Maybe he will realise it was not as straightforward as he thought and I am better than people think.

“I thought I had the early rounds, not comfortably, I had to work hard.

“Then he did come on strong at the end. He didn’t win all of them, I thought that I out-boxed him at times at range, which I shouldn’t have really been able to do.

“Maybe that experience he has of 12 rounders helped him. He’s a good lad and tough kid.”