The heavyweight, who only recently vacated the British belt, was denied the chance of competing for Ireland at the Beijing Olympics four years ago but will bid to make up for that hurt when he faces Martin Rogan on April 14.

The unbeaten Fury said: "When I knock out Rogan and get that Irish title around my waist it will be like me winning the gold medal at the Olympics.

"To win the title in the year of London 2012 will be very special."

Despite his status as a former British champion, Fury, who was born in Manchester but has ancestors from Ireland, says he "always knew" he was Irish.

Fantastic

He added: "I always knew I was Irish and now everybody knows that those who prevented me from boxing for Ireland at the Olympics in Beijing denied Ireland an Olympic heavyweight gold medallist.

"It hurt me deeply not being able to fight for Ireland at the Olympics and to win this Irish title will be just fantastic.

"I don't care about (world champions) Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko, those guys can wait because winning the Irish heavyweight championship in Belfast means everything to me."

The Odyssey Arena undercard features rising middleweight Chris Eubank Jr and former Commonwealth welterweight champion John O'Donnell.