IRVINE boxer Ryan Collins has finally secured his biggest fight to date.

The Vineburgh ace has confirmed he will face Andrew Mackay (4-0) for the vacant Scottish lightweight title on Thursday, May 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

Over the past few months, Collins, 22, has set his sights on winning the national prize as he looks to take a step closer to British title contention.

Cambuslang’s Richard Barclay was originally touted as an opponent for the vacant belt but Inverness fighter Mackay has instead taken up the challenge.

If Collins is victorious, he would follow in the footsteps of Irvine’s last Scottish lightweight champion Jim Moffat who won the same vacant title from John Townsley in September 1989.

Speaking to Sporttimes this week, a delighted Collins said: “It's the news I was waiting for and I can't wait to get in there.

“I've seen a wee bit of Mackay, he's strong and I'm sure he’ll come to fight. I'll actually be the more experienced fighter on the night and that will give me that wee bit of an edge.

“In my last few fights I've not been rushing in, just sticking to my boxing and winning the rounds.

“Even though it's a dinner show I'm sure I'll bring about 70 or 80 people from Irvine to see my win the title.”

He added: “I won't be cutting any corners, I'll be putting the work in but I'll be focusing a lot more on strength and conditioning for this fight.

“Hopefully the Scottish title will open more doors for me, I could be about four fights away from a British title shot if I win it. Once your in those top 15 rankings you never know when you might get a shot.

“I'll do what I need to do, get the victory, win the Scottish title and move on to British eliminator level.

Collins’ bout is part of a big week in Scottish boxing with Ricky Burns facing Michele Di Rocco for the WBA light-welterweight crown at the SSE Hydro on Saturday, May 28.

And if he wins the title, Collins said he would welcome a challenge from Commonwealth Gold medalist Charlie Flynn later this year.

Collins said: “The lightweight division in the UK is quite good at the moment. A fight between me and wee Charlie Flynn would be quite good, he’ll be looking at Scottish title level maybe later this year.

“Hopefully I'm the champion by then and I can defend it against him.”