by Gareth Gordon BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent

A senior colleague once said "Reg doesn't like a fight", but Sir Reg Empey is at least prepared to slug it out for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party.

He certainly entered his impressive campaign launch like a man ready to blow away any pretenders to what he believes will be his crown.

Sir Reg gets down to "fighting talk"

In the recent past, Ulster Unionist events have brought to mind that old Roy Orbison song "Only the Lonely''.

But, on this occasion, all that was missing was the theme from Rocky as Sir Reg strode confidently into the ring.

He even employed a few boxing metaphors as he predicted the Ulster Unionist fightback.

"We may have taken a standing count," said Sir Reg, "but this is a 15-round contest, where guts and stamina will count for more than a lucky punch in the first round of a long and demanding contest.

"When the votes are counted at the end, the Ulster Unionist Party will be the victor."

That's fighting talk, although the DUP won't exactly be shaking in their shoes. But they are not his first target.

These were words - and this was an event - designed to have Sir Reg's rivals for the leadership - like David McNarry and Alan McFarland - reaching for the towel.

In his corner, were six assembly members - apologies were sent by seven more. Counting Sir Reg, himself, that is more than half of the assembly party.

MEP Jim Nicholson has indicated his support

MEP Jim Nicholson indicated his support too - and supporters of the right winger, David Burnside, were also there.

He had already publicly backed Lord Kilclooney as interim leader before the former MP said he no longer wished to be considered for the post.

'Fighting talk'

Senior Orange Order figure John McCrea was present, along with a plethora of Young Unionists.

Sir Reg was asked at the end of this undeniably professional event if he would stand aside in a few years should one of these young Turks come through and he jabbed back a one-word answer, leaving no room for wriggling - "Yes!"

Round One to The Empeyites!

He certainly needed to go in hard at the end of a week when he and the other candidates received the kicking of all kickings from the aforementioned lord.

They were "has beens," said the former John Taylor - all associated with the failures of the past - although the peer's critics would say that was a bit rich coming from a man who was inside Castle Buildings at David Trimble's side when the Good Friday Agreement was signed.

There will, of course, be many who are not quite convinced by this new, pugnacious Reg Empey.

In the past, he has been variously accused of being a ditherer; of lacking "bottle"; of being a good number two or, in the words of one possible rival, "comfy." He is 57 years old, just three years younger than his now departed former party leader David Trimble.

After decades of experience in public life which have seen him as a member of various Stormont chambers; twice Belfast's lord mayor and a minister in the failed Stormont executive, perhaps he should be thinking of taking things easier.

But, at his launch, he certainly gave a very good impression of doing the opposite. He denied he was thinking only of Mr Trimble, but it was clear from his speech that he felt the party needed to change direction fast.

Sir Reg is three years younger than former party leader David Trimble

He said they needed a radical overhaul from top to bottom; that the days of "high-handedness" were over; and that they had been "disconnected" from the concerns and anxieties of supporters and potential supporters.

Of course, there are others who believe they can perform the same task as Sir Reg. The Strangford MLA Mr McNarry, who was first into the leadership contest ring, avoided the "presidential-style" launch.

However, it is believed that Mr McFarland, MLA for North Down, will go down the news conference route when he holds his launch.

The former MP, Lord Maginnis, is still in the ring too, although he is understood to have had talks with Sir Reg and his supporters who would like him to withdraw and join them. So far, he shows no sign of doing so.

While it is no easy task to second-guess the intentions of the men and women of the Ulster Unionist Council, Sir Reg must be the clear favourite to get the job when they meet to decide upon their new leader on 24 June.