Neil Linford plans to rip the WBU light-heavyweight belt from Tony Oakey's grasp tomorrow night.

Oakey, with 17 wins from 17 fights, defends his title for a third time and will be roared on by his home fans at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth.

But Linford, from Hove, is confident he can upset the odds against his former sparring partner.

He said: "I am 100 per cent confident I can beat Oakey. I am a sharper, faster and stronger than him. There is no way I can lose this fight.

"I beat him up in the gym before and I will always have that at the back of mind."

Linford knows all about Oakey. Both fighters were trained by Ronnie Davies when the fight was first arranged.

Davies, Chris Eubank's former trainer, was originally going to train Oakey and return to both boxers after the fight.

But Oakey then told Davies to drop Linford altogether amid accusations of divided loyalties.

Davies did not like the ultimatum and instead dropped the champion.

Linford, 25, does not bear a grudge although it has undoubtedly soured his friendship with Oakey.

He said: "After the fight we shall see if we are still mates. I am happy to carry on as normal. My confidence is 100 per cent and I have Ronnie on my side, rather than facing me in the opposite corner, which is great.

"Oakey will say that having Ronnie against him will spur him on. But he has been trained by Frank Maloney and he's a promoter not a trainer."

Davies said: "I have been involved in 33 title fights, 27 for world titles and six for other titles of significance like the Commonwealth. I have also trained three world champions. I expect Neil Linford to bring the title back to Hove."

Oakey prides himself on his fitness and has a reputation for hard-fought points victories, including his last two defences against Neil Simpson and Estonian Andrei Kiarsten. Linford, who moved to Hove from Leicester to work with Davies, believes he has the necessary skills and right game-plan to counter Oakey's strengths.

He said: "I will do my work and get out, it will be smash and grab."

Davies added: "Oakey relies on his fitness. Linford has a harder punch, is sharper and hits cleaner but must match Oakey for fitness. I think it will go the 12 rounds but Linford has a terrific body punch and he could finish it earlier.

"Neil's weight is perfect, he has been doing some top-class training with Howard Eastman and Carl Froch. He is in the best shape I have ever seen him in."

While Oakey has been at a training camp in Portugal, Linford has been preparing around Hove and is a familiar figure racing up and down the hill near St Helen's Church, Hove.

Davies said: "We have been training on the Costa del Hove. I believe in sticking with what you know and I never went away with Chris Eubank."

The fight is being shown live on Sky and Linford is keen to grab his big chance.

He said: "I was on Sky before when I lost to Brian Magee for the IBO super-middleweight title. I am looking forward to being back on TV so people can see the new Neil Linford."