TOP Irvine boxer Ryan Collins has high hopes he can finally land a top belt at the third time of asking next month.
The Irvine Vineburgh ace will fight fellow Scot Ahmed Ibrahim, nicknamed the Black Assassin, for the Celtic Lightweight title at the Lagoon Centre in Paisley on Saturday, October 6.
He twice fought for the coveted crown at the Hydro against Commonwealth Games star Charlie Flynn in March and the previous April.
But on both occasions, the contest was declared a technical draw following a clash of heads.
He had been due to fight Ibrahim in April but the contest was postponed owing to the injury Collins suffered.
The Irvine bruiser, who was married to Lyndsay last month, said: "I was only out for five or six weeks but have been in the gym and am feeling good.
"My intensive training starts this week and I feel I have a good attitude. My diet has been really good. I look forward to the fight and am confident I can win. Hopefully the people of Irvine will get behind me.
"Ibrahim is a decent fighter so it will be a test. But I know if I can win other doors can open up, and I could have an opportunity for a British title. But right now I can only focus on the Celtic title fight and can't look ahead. I think it was clear Charlie and I couldn't fight as we had a clash of styles."
Collins will be running a bus to the big fight from Irvine and tickets are available through his Facebook page priced: £40 - Unreserved ; £60 - Outer Ring and £100 - VIP Ringside
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