Leigh Wood's beloved Nottingham Forest took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to wish their champion good luck ahead of his fight with Josh Warrington.

"We're all behind you tonight, Leigh Wood."

World champion Leigh Wood: "I've got my scouting report. Without giving anything away, I could finish this inside the distance. And I could do it and look really good."

Scottish fighter Hannah Rankin: "I think this is going to be an all-action fight. I'm going with a late stoppage from Wood."

Retired ex-world champion Anthony Crolla: "I can make a case for both Wood and Warrington winning this. It could be Wood in rounds one to six or Warrington late on in the fight. If pushed for a prediction, I will go for Warrington to put in one more brilliant performance and become a three-time world champion."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Utilita Arena, Sheffield

If the crowd reactions to the ringwalks are anything to go by, there are more Nottingham Forest fans in than Leeds supporters.

Wood has the majority backing tonight.

Here's the WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood and 'Mull Of Kintyre' is belted out by at least half of those in attendance tonight.

A bit of shadow boxing at the top of the ramp as he lets the atmosphere and tension build... come on Leigh we want to see this fight get going!

Eventually he gets down to the ring. We're almost there.

Challenger Josh Warrington is the first to come out, he actually started to make the walk while 'Sweet Caroline' was being played at the arena and the Leigh Wood fans were whistling and booing.

'Marching On Together' hits the speakers. He'll be in a good mood after Leeds picked up a 2-1 win at home to Bristol City earlier today.

Then it's into 'I Predict A Riot' and I think that's what we are all expecting tonight.

He's got his Leeds colours on too - a blue robe with yellow trim. A man for the big occasion and this is a big one!

Image source, Matchroom

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Utilita Arena, Sheffield

One of my first ever boxing live texts for the BBC was Josh Warrington's defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez. I had spent a lot of time crafting clever one-liners about Warrington's inevitable victory. They all went in the recycle bin after Lopez pulled out a stunning win.

That was also the same evening on which England were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup. It was a very bad day to be a football and boxing fan from Leeds.

BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Barry Jones: "It's a fight where you have to put Wood as the favourite. It looks as if Warrington may have lost a bit of intensity in his work and that intensity is what made him such a good fighter at world level.

"Saying that, I'm going against the grain and I'm going to pick Warrington. I think Wood has the discipline and power to be a nightmare. But I do feel Warrington's strength is that tight guard and he rushes you with his work. That might make Wood revert to pre-world title Leigh Wood and that's where Warrington might get to him."

Middleweight prospect George Liddard: "Personally for me, Wood wins it. That explosive power we've seen in the fights and I think he's got a better boxing brain. He's switched on. But I don't think it'll be an easy fight. Warrington comes to fight and works hard so he could definitely cause him some problems with pressure. A Wood win, maybe between rounds five and seven."

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn: "Wood is a big believer in his punch power. Warrington thinks he can steamroll Wood, he thinks he can run him over. He is going to come out like a train and he is going to try and stop Wood in this fight. I wouldn't be surprised if both hit the deck in this fight and I think it's over in six rounds. Could go either way."

Image source, Matchroom

Josh Warrington could not look more relaxed as he chilled out on the sofa in his changing room ahead of his world title fight with Leigh Wood.

Now it's time to focus as he prepares to make the walk to the ring.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Boxing expert Steve Bunce has been looking ahead to tonight's blockbuster world title bout between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington.

He spoke with both fighters, promoter Eddie Hearn and IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

Anthony Crolla
Former world champion

At certain points in a fighter's career comes a must-win bout.

Sometimes that term is put out there too early. It can scare a boxer, they become afraid of losing their '0'. A defeat in MMA, for example, is often seen as a lesson. There is not always an expectation they must avenge that loss.

But for Josh Warrington, a loss to Leigh Wood on Saturday probably will be the end of the road.

Warrington has come up from the small-hall scene to become not only one of the biggest fighters in the UK but one of the best boxers in the world in his division.

There has been no British featherweight in recent times, other than Prince Naseem Hamed, who could bring the crowds like Warrington.

He lost his IBF title to Luis Alberto Lopez in his last fight. There wasn't a lot in it but Warrington did look below par and Lopez did probably do enough to win on points.

There are now question marks on how much Warrington has left in the tank. Is there one more big night in the sport for him? Or is he on the decline?

He has been written off and wants to prove people wrong. Even though Wood is champion, there is more pressure on Warrington. His career is on the line.

Read Anthony Crolla's column here.

BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen in to commentary of tonight's action on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to commentary right now!

Image source, Matchroom

Josh Warrington won his first world title in 2018, beating Lee Selby by split decision and he went on to make successful defences.

The 32-year-old vacated his IBF belt in January 2021, just a month before facing Mauricio Lara, after the sanctioning body insisted he must face mandatory challenger Kid Galahad.

He went on to lose against Lara and then the rematch ended in a technical draw after two rounds due to a cut above the Mexican's eye following an accidental clash of heads.

The Leeds Warrior's second world title arrived in March 2022 when he beat Kiko Martínez via a seventh-round TKO, but he lost it nine months later when coming away on the wrong side of a majority decision against Luis Alberto Lopez.

That means Warrington has won just once in his last four fights - a run that stretches back to 2019 - but he is adamant that he still has plenty more to give as he looks to become a three-time world champion.

"People have written me off already," Warrington said. "[Saying that] I'm finished. It gives me the bit between my teeth.

"My knockouts have come at championship level. My stoppages have come when it's mattered the most.

"I don't care what anyone thinks. I've got enough to hurt Leigh and I'm very confident. I just have a real strong feeling this doesn't see the final bell."

Image source, Getty Images

Superstition is, for many athletes, extremely important.

For a boxer, it could be putting the gloves on in a certain order or eating the same pre-fight meal.

The last time we saw Leigh Wood in action was when he beat Mauricio Lara in a rematch to regain the WBA featherweight belt on 27 May.

That was the same weekend that his football club Nottingham Forest travelled to Crystal Palace in the Premier League and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Forest and Palace played out another draw at Selhurst Park today as Wood prepares to make his first defence.

Coincidence or fate?

Image source, Matchroom

It's all calm in the changing room of the champion as Leigh Wood gets his hands wrapped ready for another world title fight.

Matchroom's Eddie Hearn speaking to DAZN after the majority draw between Terri Harper and Cecilia Braekhus: "I think Terri's too polite. That's an absolute joke. Terri Harper should be unified world champion tonight. At the end of the day, that's just incompetence. Outrageous. Everybody saw it and everyone is shaking their head here tonight. I cannot understand what these judges see sometimes. She won the fight comfortably. It's a shocker."

Image source, Matchroom

If there's one thing you can guarantee from Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington, it's that neither fighter likes to take a backwards step.

Tonight we could get a contest for ages between two warriors and possibly even a Fight of the Year contender.

There is so much at stake with the winner hoping to go on to unification fights and the loser potentially calling time on their career.

Champion Wood still has an ambition to further enhance his reputation before hanging up the gloves and has vowed to get to work on Warrington.

"I know [Warrington] can bite down and give everything he needs to. But at what cost?" Wood said.

"There's going to be times in this fight when he needs to bite down just to win a moment and I'm going to make him pay for those moments.

"It's going to be an electric atmosphere and the best I've ever witnessed.

"I want to be remembered as one of the best featherweights and best fighters from my city,"

You've heard the thoughts of some big names from the boxing world, so what are you thinking?

Who wins and how? Is Leigh Wood set to defend his WBA featherweight title? Or is Warrington set to become a three-time world champion?

Let us know your thoughts on Twitter via #bbcboxing, WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 - standard UK message rates apply.

Terri Harper speaking to DAZN after her majority draw with Cecilia Braekus: "I feel like I did just enough to win. It was my own fault for letting it get that close, I should have stepped up the gears. I felt the extra weight of Cecilia. Thanks to Cecilia for a great fight.

Up next: "I weighed in just over 150. Getting in the ring with these bigger girls, you feel it. Maybe I need to drop down to 147, 140.

"I love being back here in Sheffield, gutted I didn't get the win for you guys. Thanks for buying the tickets and hopefully next time I can get a win for you guys."

Image source, Reuters

Challenger Josh Warrington: "Knockout win for Josh Warrington. "I've [won world titles] arguably against better fighters. So first time for Leigh really, taking him to somewhere he's not been before."

Boxing trainer Dave Coldwell: "They both realise this fight is everything and how much is riding on it. Momentum is with Wood and I will say he wins the fight but if Warrington makes it into a rough, tough fight and can make Wood feel uncomfortable then that gives him a bit of an edge.

"But I feel Wood is the better boxer and carries that extra bit of power. He is very good at making his range count and if he does that I think he wins that."

WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith: "An interesting fight. Wood coming off a great win back in May, avenging a KO defeat, and Warrington coming off a majority decision loss to a superb fighter and solid puncher in Lopez. For me it's a pick 'em fight but due to what he overcame last time out I'm edging towards Leigh Wood."

Flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards: "Warrington is one of those fighters that I promised myself I wouldn't write off again. It's whoever imposes their style on the fight better and Warrington is great at imposing his style."

Right, let's turn our attention to tonight's main event!

The arena is buzzing and we're not far away from Leigh Wood against Josh Warrington.

Fancy some predictions?