Friday 20 May 2016 12:13, UK
David Price believes he is already at world level and has no interest in fighting domestic contenders.
Much has changed since the Liverpool heavyweight last fought in July, with British rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua winning world titles while Dillian Whyte and David Allen have emerged on the British scene.
Price has been forced to lick his wounds after defeats to Tony Thompson and Erkan Teper, who both subsequently failed drug tests, cost him his IBF top-15 ranking.
I've already gone down the British and Commonwealth route and cleaned up
After returning to action on Tony Bellew's Goodison Park undercard on May 29, live on Sky Sports, Price has vowed to re-establish his lost reputation among the world's elite heavyweights.
"I've already gone down the British and Commonwealth route and cleaned up," Price exclusively told Sky Sports.
"After the Thompson loss, I got four wins then lost for the European title.
"I'm not really bothered about going down the British route. If I get put back where I belong before I was cheated, I'm beyond the British route.
"If I have to, then it's a different story. But we'll see that in the not-too-distant future."
The former British, European and Commonwealth champion is still just 32 and believes a return to form in his home city will give his career a second wind.
He plans to join an exciting heavyweight scene led by Fury and Joshua that includes the returning David Haye and the emerging Joseph Parker, who fights Carlos Takam on Saturday live on Sky Sports 3 HD at 11am.
He said: "I was always going to come back from this - there's only so long they can keep a quality, big-punching heavyweight like myself down. There's only so long. The quality will come through.
"I've always maintained that I'm as good - I've got as much ability, if not more - than most heavyweights. I'd put myself on an even peg.
"The only difference is producing when it matters and I've come short a couple of times. But that's all part of my story.
"Something is going to click where I do produce in the ring - even my best performances haven't been to my best ability.
"So I do, on a skill-level, consider myself up with the very best."
Can Price return to world level? Don't miss Joseph Parker v Carlos Takam on Saturday live on Sky Sports 3 HD at 11am.
