The 35-year-old boxer – who lost his British middleweight title to Denzel Bentley last November – believes he is in a “good position” in his own career and hopes his rival won’t try to “avoid” them coming face-to-face in the ring.

He told Boxing News magazine: “I’m number two with the WBO and Hamzah is number one. It makes sense.

“I don’t imagine I’m too far away from a world title shot. I think I’m in a good position right now and in my mind I’m thinking, ‘World title shot next’.

“If it doesn’t happen with Hamzah, that’s all on his side. I’ve called for it, I’ve said I’ll have it next before my last four or five fights, but he has been on a journey climbing the rankings and everything else.

“I can accept that and appreciate that, but now we are one and two, we are only in each other’s way.

“I think it’s the natural fight to have next.

“I think if it doesn’t happen, he is trying to find a reason to avoid it, but I’m willing to go through Hamzah to get to the world title.”

Nathan thinks his weight class is currently “wide open” for new champions.

He said: “It’s a division crying out for someone to come and get hold of it.

“Hamzah probably feels the same, that he’s the guy to do that.

“I feel like it’s wide open, whichever way you go; Erislandy Lara is a great champion but he’s 41. Carlos Adames is a good fighter, but I think he’s very beatable.

“Zhanibek has two belts but what does he do now? Will he get stripped? Will he move up? Either way, it’s wide open and I’m ready for any call up.”