Having grown up in Leeds as an ardent Leeds United supporter, Josh Warrington will realise a dream when he fights at his beloved Elland Road on Saturday.
The 27-year-old faces IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby for a much-anticipated showdown that will attract up to 25,000 fans.
The overwhelming majority will be backing local lad Warrington and the occasion will not be for the faint hearted.
Welshman Selby, a Cardiff City supporter, was jeered by Warrington’s fans at the press conference on Tuesday and hostilities will be tenfold when the first bell rings on Saturday night.
Warrington’s dad and trainer Sean O’Hagan told The Sportsman: “I would compare the atmosphere at on Saturday to a Leeds-Manchester game, or Leeds-Millwall.
“The Elland Road crowd like a bit of banter, but then you have to have a sense of humour following Leeds don’t you?
“They’re all mad and Josh is no different, so it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere on Saturday, but we’ve got to show Selby respect.
“I’ve got respect for anyone who steps in a boxing ring and I don’t actually dislike him.
“Yes, tempers do flare in the build-up to fights and boxers like to build themselves up.
“That spurs them on, but at the end of the day there are some horrible people in boxing who I wouldn’t give the time of day, but Lee isn’t a bad kid.”
Warrington worked as a dental technician before becoming a full-time professional boxer.
Nicknamed ‘The Boxing Tooth Fairy’, he fixed teeth by day and knocked them out at night.
His fight with Selby will settle a long-running feud and Warrington will be accompanied on his ringwalk by Leeds legend Lucas Radebe, while the city’s Kaiser Chiefs will play ‘I Predict a Riot’.
🥊 26 fights
👊 26 wins
💥 6 knockouts
Josh Warrington is looking to claim his first world title when he fights in front of his home fans on Saturday night...
Warrington said: “Over the years Lee has said I won't get to his level and I'm an average fighter.
“It will be embarrassing for him to lose his title to an average fighter, won't it?
“I feel this is meant to be. I talk a lot about destiny. A few years ago I was meant to fight for a world title and it didn't come off.
“Anything could have happened in those couple of years but it has come round in a way I have always dreamed and planned.
“I've always said I'd love to fight for a world title at Elland Road, I always said I'd have the Chief there and now Kaiser Chiefs play too.
“It's all fallen into place. All I have to do now is get in the ring and do the business and Leeds will have its first world champion.”
Yet 31-year-old Selby insisted: “It's only four hours up the road from my home so it's not so much of a lions' den to me.
“My title is world champion and I should be ready to defend my title anywhere in the world.
“The support is irrelevant, it's just another defence to me, another fight.”
O’Hagan has played a key role in shaping Warrington into the person and boxer he is today ahead of a scrap which could see the winner fight Carl Frampton in Belfast.
Warrington hails from a tough part of east Leeds and his father added: “It was alright; you just did what you had to do like the rest of the lads on the estate.
“Yes, Josh could have gone down the wrong path, but that’s the same story for a million other housing estate kids.
“People might say ‘boxing saved me’ but no it didn’t, a slap around the head saved you!
“All you’ve got to do is give kids your time. If you’ve no money, give them your time.
“I’m obviously proud and pleased with what we’ve done so far. Hopefully we can round it off on Saturday.”
