LUKE Watkins believes that he will be ready to fight for the British title before the end of the year.

The unbeaten cruiserweight makes his first appearance of 2016 on March 12 as the chief support to Kelly Morgan’s WBC Silver middleweight title bout at the Oasis Leisure Centre.

The Paddy Fitzpatrick-trained fighter will be in an eight-round contest next month as he looks to make it seven wins from seven.

The 26-year-old has already been sparring Craig Kennedy, who faces Tony Conquest in a final eliminator for the British title on March 11, as well as former WBO world cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli, and Watkins has been taking plenty of confidence from those sessions.

“They are good. Every spar with a different man is good” Watkins said. “They are good guys. I believe I’m a good guy. The fact I can hang with them; it speaks for itself.

“It does (give you confidence), because without fights, it is the sparring that gives you the confidence for fights.

“So sparring better opposition and good fighters gives you confidence.”

With the goal for this year to be in position to fight for the coveted Lonsdale belt, which is currently held by Ovill McKenzie, the Duke says that he is constantly looking at how the land lies in the 200lb division.

“If my progression keeps going the way it is, why shouldn’t I be at that level?” he said. “I’m always looking at the division.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be fighting for the British title, but to be up at that level; I don’t see why that is not a realistic goal.”

Watkins’ trainer Fitzpatrick says that once his charge reaches the top of the domestic scene, they will look to stay there for a while.

“I’m not in a hurry with him,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is the right side of the right age. We are in no hurry. Within 12 months I believe that he will be British champion.

“That doesn’t mean that we have to go for it in the next two months, four months, six months or eight months.

“Then, we won’t be in a hurry to leave the British scene either, because I want him to get experience at that level.

“He is in a good place. He has been sparring Craig Kennedy and down sparring Enzo, and is performing well.”