BRADLEY Pryce might be edging towards the twilight of his career but the former Commonwealth champion’s drive to succeed shows no signs of diminishing as he gears up for his 17th title fight.

The 35-year-old from Newbridge faces home favourite Luke Keeler for the Boxing Union of Ireland’s vacant Celtic Nations middleweight crown tonight at Dublin’s National Stadium.

It is Pryce’s 59th outing in the pro ranks and comes eight-and-a-half years since he last won a bout when there was a belt on the line.

But a confident Pryce (38-20) goes into the clash on the back of three straight victories and feeling more comfortable at 160lbs than he has been after moving up to the weight in the past.

Keeler (10-2) lost to Pryce’s fellow Welshman Tom Doran on his last outing in April – his only other defeat, in the semi-finals of Prizefighter in February 2015, was also at the hands of Doran.

“I had this fight offered to me a while back but turned it down because I was supposed to be fighting Justin Menzie again,” said Pryce. “Then I had a call from the promoter to say Menzie had pulled out.

“I got on the phone to the promoters in Ireland to see if they still wanted to make the fight between me and Luke Keeler, and they were happy to do it.

“I turned it down first of all because I wanted to make an impression at light-middleweight, but when the Menzie fight was called off I felt confident I could step up to middleweight.

“It’s probably the first time I’ve been at middleweight feeling strong. When I fought Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jnr I felt like a small light-middle against big middleweights.

“I feel a lot stronger now after doing a lot of work in the gym and I’m more confident about mixing it with a middleweight.”

On Keeler, he continued: “He has a half-decent record and it should make for a good fight.

“He’s going to look to come forward and I’ll use the first round or two to see what power he’s got.

“If he’s not hitting that hard then he’s going to be in trouble as I’ll wear him down. If he’s got a dig on him then I can box on the outside.”

Pryce added: “I’m definitely taking boxing a lot more seriously these days. People are looking at the condition I’m in and comparing it to when I was younger.

“I’m looking forward to this fight and showcasing what I can do.

“I’m definitely looking to go back to light-middleweight after this fight.

“I’m looking for a title fight at that weight, and winning this fight should help me do that.”

Tonight’s show is the first for Red Corner Promotions and the Pryce-Keeler contest will be the last for legendary referee Mickey Vann before he retires.