LUKE Watkins says that he will not shy away from the Southern Area crown should it cross his path.

The unbeaten cruiserweight makes his debut at the top of a bill on Sunday night, in the first of a seven-fight co-promotional deal between Keith Mayo and Paddy Fitzpatrick at the Grange Drive Leisure Centre.

With town rival Lawrence Bennett having vacated the Southern Area title to concentrate on his bid to become English champion, an opportunity could be in the offing for Watkins. However the Fitzpatrick-trained boxer insists that belt is not what he is focusing on.

“If it falls on my path, then yes I will chase it, if it doesn’t then I’m not going to stress,” said Watkins, who will look make it six wins from as many fights when he faces durable Lithuanian Igoris Borucha on Sunday.

“For me I’m chasing world titles. People will think what is he talking about - I’m going to get there.

“One day I’ll be there, that is my aim and everything on the way is a stepping stone.

“My (first) aim is the British (title), if I bump into the Southern Area or the English along the way and my path falls that way we will go for it.

“Once I’ve chased the British, I will chase the European, then the world.”

Watkins says that he will take being the main attraction of the Christmas Cracker show in his stride.

The 26-year-old is also looking forward to being able to develop his fanbase in his hometown following the deal between Mayo and Fitzpatrick.

“Boxing on the road isn’t what everyone wants to do,” he said.

“I don’t care whether I’m on the road or at home, but Swindon is my hometown, it is where a lot of my following is based.

“To be able to stay here and showcase to them all the time is much more pleasing to me because not everyone is going to be able to travel away with you.

“I hope that I can keep building a good following and when we start going for titles around the globe I can take everyone from Swindon with me.”

Despite having spent much of 2015 out of the ring due to injury and illness, Watkins believes that his time out has helped make him stronger.

“I had a nine-month stint which wasn’t the greatest, but I learnt a lot in that nine months about the mental side of boxing and what to expect in the future,” said Duke.

“Until you are living it and doing it, you expect everything to be plain sailing, you don’t think about injuries, you don’t think about illness, you don’t think about nothing like that.

“So now I have lived it and know the realisation I’m going to take the next year as it comes, it has been a good start to my career.”