THE Irvine boxing fraternity is limbering up for one of the biggest nights in its history this spring.

All roads will lead to Paisley's Lagoon Leisure Centre on Saturday, March 3, when Ryan Collins, who drew with Charlie Flynn in his last fight in September, will bid to regain the vacant Scottish Lightweight title against African-born and currently English-based MTK fighter Ahmed Ibrahim.

But topping the bill on what promises to be a knockout night will be fellow Irvine fighter Ryan Brawley, who can look forward to a re-scheduled 10-round light welterweight clash with veteran former Commonwealth and WBU champion Willie Limond. The fight had been due to take place in September, but Brawley was forced to pull out a few weeks beforehand with cracked ribs.

Demand for tickets is set to be huge with hundreds of fight fans from North Ayrshire set to head for the Renfrewshire town and the hugely anticipated fight night will be screened live on Freesport Fight Night, Sky Channel 424 and Freeview Channel 95.

Ibrahim has won five of his seven fights, losing one and drawing one.

Collins, who has recovered after losing a fingertip in an accident at work last year, said: "I would have liked a rematch with Charlie Flynn but I'm sure we will fight somewhere down the line. Ahmed is a fit, strong and game lad so I'll be expecting fireworks. I'm looking forward to getting back in the mix and putting myself back on the map and putting the belt back in the cabinet which I lost due to boxing politics at the end of 2016. ~I am training hard. Hopefully a win puts me a step closer to the British title. I will be looking at getting a big team up behind me and will be running buses to the fight.

"This must be one of Irvine's biggest boxing nights - I don't think you will ever have had two guys called Ryan from Irvine fighting on the same bill."

Brawley is equally excited about his fight and said: "I had a call from Willie Limond's manager a couple of months ago and decided straight away to take the fight. I had heard rumours he was retiring so it's great he is really up for the fight. My training is going well. Willie has so much experience, having won Commonwealth and World titles and it';s a tough fight but hopefully I can win. That might open the door to a title fight for me."

He added: "It's great for Irvine two guys are fighting on the same night and I'm sure my fans will be watching him as well as me. I hope to help Ryan as the opponent he is up against has a style similar to mine so I will do some sparring with him which should be good preparation for the fight."