Anthony Cacace has said he feels at home as he looks to see off the challenge Leigh Wood in Saturday's IBO world super featherweight fight in Nottingham.
Cacace vacated the IBF championship, which is rated much higher than the IBO strap, in order to meet Wood in front of a sold-out crowd in the Nottingham Arena.
The victor is like to go on to challenge for more world honours, with Wood a former two-time champion of the division.
He has been out of the ring for 19 months, and with both fighters now aged 36, it is a make or break bout.
Cacace knows a victory would lead to a major fight, possibly for world honours back at home in Northern Ireland.
With two big wins over British fighters in Joe Cordina and Josh Warrington already secured, he is looking to repeat the trick.
He said: "It feels like I am in Belfast, to be honest. It is a great city. I am here, Leigh is my third two-time world champion in a row. If you looked at my life two years ago, I was nowhere, now I am fighting these calibre of fighters. I’ve nothing but respect for Leigh, but I am here to do a job in Nottingham and I will do that on Saturday night.
"I have been welcomed with open arms, there hasn’t been too much animosity or anything like that. It is just another fight for me. I could have done this fight in Belfast if I wanted and I am sure Leigh would have travelled, but I decided to come to Nottingham because I though Leigh sells a lot of tickets and it would be something new for me.
"I’m just raring to go, it doesn’t matter where it is. It is Leigh Wood who is in front of me and I’ve watched him for years. When I wasn’t really doing much and not getting opportunities, I was watching him fight. He is the Cinderella Man of Nottingham and I would love to come here and do the business."
Wood wants to end Cacace’s winning run in a bid to get back into world title contention again.
He also has a win over Warrington in 2023 and previously beat Michael Conlan in a fight for the ages in 2022.
Wood explained: "I am extremely excited for Saturday night. It has been way too long out of the ring, but not out of the gym. I’ve been staying disciplined and trying to get big fights for a while. I’ve had injuries but at the end of last year I was ready to go and was sat around. I saw the fight between Cacace and Warrington, he did a great job, now we are finally here.
"I’ve got a few belts already, so this is more about the win, the name and what Cacace has achieved. Taking that scalp is a lot more important to me."
A racous atmosphere is expected for the fight, with promoter Frank Warren predicting fireworks: "It is a special fight and it is going to be a special night.
"Saturday we will maybe get Fight of the Year or it will certainly be a contender between two extremely, extremely good boxers.
"The IBO title is on the line for the winner of the fight and it is a must-win fight for both of them. The winner will go on and be involved in a massive fight this year.
"They know what it is all about and they know what they’ve got to do. I think we are going to see something extra, extra special."
