LEROY Williamson will draw on the inspiration of idol Sugar Ray Leonard for the biggest fight in his five-year professional career in six days time.

The 29-year-old Worcester fighter competes for the vacant Midland and British Masters titles in Nottingham's Victoria Leisure Centre next Sunday against local favourite Matt Scrivens.

Light middleweight Williamson relies on the similar speed and footwork which were the backbone of his hero's success during the 1980s and earned him five world titles at five different weights.

Nottingham is a far cry from Las Vegas and Caesars Palace where many of Leonard's most memorable contests took place but for Williamson it will be an occassion to savour.

"This is the biggest fight I've ever had and I'm just happy I've got a chance at a title fight," he said.

"I''m concentrating solely on this but if I do win hopefully I will be going on to bigger things and my aim is to get into the top 20 and take it from there.

"I've boxed since I was 14 and have always loved the sport. My idols were the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard.

"I know the risks and dangers involved but I love the training and the adrenaline you get pumping through you on fight night is amazing.

"Scrivens is a local lad who's had 30 odd fights and he will have a lot of support but quite a few people are travelling up from Worcester to support me.

"I'm confident ahead of this fight and the longer the distance the stronger I feel I will get.

"I'm not a big hitter but I've got good combination and work-rate and am a tidy boxer. I get behind my jab and rely on speed and footwork.

"When the fight starts it will be quite cagey but if I feel strong as it goes on I will up the work rate and start going forward."

Williamson, a veteran of more than 90 amateur fights, and 42 professional bouts, has put himself through a punishing training schedule at Worcester City's Amateur Boxing Club off Wyld's Lane to prepare for the 10 x 3 minute round contest.

It's the first time he has fought over that distance -- his previous longest bout was eight rounds -- but victory could be a springboard to a greater horizons.

The man charged with guiding Williamson's career is Birmingham based trainer and manager Nobby Nobbs, who spotted Williamson's talent when he went to train at Nobby's gym.

Nearly 20 years ago Nobbs took another Worcester boxer Micky Baker to within one fight of a shot at the British lightweight title success and has similar hopes for Williamson.

"If he wins this should get him into the top 15 and it's a stepping stone in his career," said Nobbs.

"If he wins it will definitely be good for his credentials within the boxing world and he'll have to defend his titles."

Williamson was given only three weeks' notice of the fight but has put in gruelling road and sparring sessions to get himself into top shape.

After 10 hour days at work in Blackpole where he is a warehouseman, Williamson comes back to train five nights a week for two hours with more roadwork at the weekend.

The training schedule includes six-mile runs, five round sparring sessions plus lots of stomach muscle strengthening exercises. It may be hard work but the former Christopher Whitehead High School pupil realises he will not have a better chance of making it and is ensuring he is fully prepared.

"When I found out I had the fight I really had to put myself through it to be as fit as I can and I've put my body through hell," he said.

Williamson's professional record shows only 10 wins and two draws from his 42 fights but that does not quite tell the whole picture as he explains.

"I've fought Frank Maloney and Frank Warren's fighters, good boxers that have been undefeated, and also fighters ranked in the top 10," he said.

Williamson admits he will have plenty of butterflies in the fight build up but that's the same for every boxer -- even the great Sugar Ray Leonard.