Leigh Wood has urged Belfast fans to rein in their excitement when he faces Anthony Cacace in a much-anticipated clash in Nottingham in May.
The 36-year-old welcomes the Apache to the Motorpoint Arena after Cacace relinquished his world title in order to chase bigger fights, and he has immediately gotten his wish.
Northern Irish boxing fans will already be keenly aware of Wood after he knocked out Michael Conlan at the same venue three years ago and has since beaten Mauricio Lara and Josh Warrington to claim the WBA featherweight title.
But ahead of the fight, Wood has made a plea – perhaps cheekily as opposed to seriously – to the fans travelling over to Nottingham for the fight in three months’ time.
“For the Michael Conlan fight, walking to the ring, a flag came out and I ducked it, and then someone threw a pint down my leg and onto my foot and soaked my boot and my sock,” he revealed.
“So, please, Belfast lot, just rein it in a little bit for this ring walk if you get anywhere near me. Thanks.”