Unbeaten Leeds star Josh Warrington admits he will have Nicola Adams to thank if he fulfils his goal of a world featherweight title fight next year.
Warrington is a former gym-mate of the double Olympic champion, with whom he will share the bill when boxing returns to their home city at the First Direct Arena on Saturday night.
Warrington, who faces experienced Spaniard Kiko Martinez, took up boxing at the age of six at Sharky's gym in the city, where Adams was already becoming established.
The 25-year-old said: "Nicola was the only boxer I could spar with when I started because I was so small, and I never thought any different because she was a girl.
"She was just another boxer in the gym who could hold her own. I could see she was something special and even at that early stage I knew she could go on and win titles."
Adams has not fought in Leeds since she made her boxing debut as a 13-year-old at a smoke-filled working men's club in 1997.
On Saturday she will make more history by fighting over three-minute rounds for the first time against Maryan Salazar of Mexico, as she quickly builds on her professional debut last month.
Warrington, meanwhile, will bring in the crowds as he bids to take a significant step up in his career against an opponent who has acquitted himself well in previous bouts against Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg.
Adams said: "The support Josh gets is unbelievable and I can only begin to imagine what the atmosphere is going to be like on Saturday.
"It means everything to me to be back fighting in my home city. I have always had so much support from the people of Leeds and I am still counting on that support today.
"It is a big night for me as I fight three-minute rounds for the first time and while I think I could fight for a world title tomorrow, it is about adapting to the new system and making the most of it."
Source: PA
