Norton stopped the dangerous Tommy Eastwood in the eighth round at The Sports Centre in Coventry to win the belt.

The 35-year-old and his advisers now have their sights on Hungary's WBF champion, Gyorgy Hidvegi.

A meeting with Hidvegi would see the southpaw bid to win a second world title having held the WBU version earlier in his career.

Norton's manager Jayson Hollier said: "I think we are going to have to take a different route with Rob.

"He has been waiting a long time for a new chance to win the British title and we can't wait around for ever.

"He deserves a British title fight but it just isn't happening."

Norton's success against Eastwood was his sixth successive inside the distance win since failing in a bid to win the Britishtitle when he was outpointed by Mark Hobson in 2003.