British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion Danny Williams has set himself the target of becoming a world champion by the end of the year.

The 28-year-old, speaking exclusively to BBC Sport Online, says that after defending his British title against Keith Long, he is looking to fight for the European title and then a world belt.

"I'm hoping that by October, I should be getting it on with John Ruiz (World Boxing Association champion) and by the grace of Allah, I'll become world champion," said Williams, a Muslim.

But there are a few obstacles standing in the way of such a target - the fight with Long, which is being shown on BBC1 on 12 February, being the first.

Williams also has to hope that Ruiz comes through unscathed in a mandatory defence of his crown against Canadian Kirk Johnson.

The fight with Long should be interesting while it lasts, with Williams admitting that the two were pretty good friends until the fight was announced.

"We'd always ring each other up before fights and wish each other the best.

"But since the fight has been announced, we're enemies, not friends.

"If after I knock him out, he can live with it, then we'll be friends again."

It sounds like tough talk from Williams, especially coming from a man standing over 6ft 2ins and weighing in excess of 18st.

But there is no disputing that the Brixton heavyweight is an affable and charming man who is merely working hard to make his name on both sides of the Atlantic.

He strives, he says, to be "nasty in the ring but a perfect gentleman outside it", although there is no evidence yet that his version of nastiness corresponds to Mike Tyson's.

Williams last fought in America on 15 December 2001, on the undercard of the third fight between Ruiz and Evander Holyfield.

The actual fighting was restricted to less than two rounds as he pummelled Shawn Robinson, a stocky American with just one previous defeat.

Rather than celebrate in the over-the-top style which has become the norm in boxing, Williams merely turned to his corner and asked his trainer Jim McDonnell how he had performed.

Minutes later, he was telling an American interviewer that he was disappointed with his performance.

"Basically, I'm my worst critic and I know I can do better than I did that night. I think the public only saw about 30 to 40% of my best that night," said Williams.

The improvement is certain to come with every fight and every little nuance that trainer McDonnell is able to add to his fighter's repertoire.

They have worked together since June 1999, a few months after Williams suffered his only loss, a points defeat at the hands of Julius Francis.

Since then, Williams has put on more than a stone to aid his strength requirements, while providing one of the most heroic performances in the sport when knocking out Mark Potter with one arm.

That fight, in October 2000, saw the fighter dislocate his right shoulder on two occasions before rallying to stop his opponent with a huge left uppercut.