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Audley Harrison believes it is his "destiny" to fight WBA heavyweight champion David Haye but first must undergo an operation that will sideline him for four months.
Harrison, the newly crowned European heavyweight champion, has not been put off by Haye's manager and trainer Adam Booth recently dismissing him as "not on our radar".
"David Haye doesn't want to fight me," Harrison told Sky Sports News.
"I've sparred many rounds with David Haye. David is a big puncher but is open to getting knocked out.
"The history of British heavyweight boxing shows that the two heavyweights always collide at some point. Destiny is going to make me and David Haye fight.
"I will go and win a world title and then we'll see how irrelevant Mr Audley Harrison is."
Operation
Harrison's plans, however, are on hold for the moment after he ruptured his pectoral muscle during his European title victory over Michael Sprott on April 9.
Behind on the judges' scorecards, Harrison knocked out Sprott in the final round despite having suffered the injury to his right side early in the fight.
"I ruptured my pectoral, a total rupture," said the 38-year-old, who also had the same injury in 2002.
"It ripped in the second round - I couldn't use it (right hand) from then on."
Harrison is aiming to return to the ring in September and is obligated to fight his mandatory European title challenger Alexander Dimitrenko.
Beyond that, the 38-year-old is looking for a world title shot, most likely against one of the Klitschkos, either IBF and WBO champion Wladimir or his elder brother Vitali, who holds the WBC strap.
"Alexander Dimitrenko is the number one contender so I have to fight him," he added.
Tough guy
"He's a tough guy from the Ukraine, 6ft 7in. If I beat him, and I plan to, then I will be ranked in the top 10 by all of the organisations.
"I am one fight away from a legitimate world title challenge.
"Or, if the Klitschkos come calling straight away - because they are desperate for challengers ranked in the top 10 - then obviously I'd jump at the chance.
"I'm either one fight, or no fights, away from fighting for a world title."
Harrison, the newly crowned European heavyweight champion, has not been put off by Haye's manager and trainer Adam Booth recently dismissing him as "not on our radar".
"David Haye doesn't want to fight me," Harrison told Sky Sports News.
"I've sparred many rounds with David Haye. David is a big puncher but is open to getting knocked out.
"The history of British heavyweight boxing shows that the two heavyweights always collide at some point. Destiny is going to make me and David Haye fight.
"I will go and win a world title and then we'll see how irrelevant Mr Audley Harrison is."
Operation
Harrison's plans, however, are on hold for the moment after he ruptured his pectoral muscle during his European title victory over Michael Sprott on April 9.
Behind on the judges' scorecards, Harrison knocked out Sprott in the final round despite having suffered the injury to his right side early in the fight.
"I ruptured my pectoral, a total rupture," said the 38-year-old, who also had the same injury in 2002.
"It ripped in the second round - I couldn't use it (right hand) from then on."
Harrison is aiming to return to the ring in September and is obligated to fight his mandatory European title challenger Alexander Dimitrenko.
Beyond that, the 38-year-old is looking for a world title shot, most likely against one of the Klitschkos, either IBF and WBO champion Wladimir or his elder brother Vitali, who holds the WBC strap.
"Alexander Dimitrenko is the number one contender so I have to fight him," he added.
Tough guy
"He's a tough guy from the Ukraine, 6ft 7in. If I beat him, and I plan to, then I will be ranked in the top 10 by all of the organisations.
"I am one fight away from a legitimate world title challenge.
"Or, if the Klitschkos come calling straight away - because they are desperate for challengers ranked in the top 10 - then obviously I'd jump at the chance.
"I'm either one fight, or no fights, away from fighting for a world title."
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