Paul Ingle can expect a rousing reception when he steps through the ropes at Madison Square Garden to defend his world crown against Junior Jones.

The Yorkshire Hunter will be making the first defence of his International Boxing Federation crown at the mecca of boxing on April 29.

It will be a long way from home for Scarborough ace Ingle, who has never fought abroad since turning professional.

But while Jones, a native New Yorker, will enjoy home advantage, Ingle can expect to be cheered on by up to 6,000 British boxing fans almost double the number of supporters who saw him lift his crown at the Hull Ice Arena back in November.

The fight with Jones will serve as chief support as Lennox Lewis defends his undisputed world heavyweight title against Michael Grant.

"We do expect at least more than 6,000 Brits over there," said Ingle's manager Frank Maloney.

"I can assure you it will be packed arena.

"One of Paul's concerns was that he would be fighting in an empty stadium. I explained that people only come in for the main fights and there will be only two main fights on this card Paul Ingle v Junior Jones and Lennox Lewis v Michael Grant.

"Lennox has lots of fans from Yorkshire and throughout Britain but having Paul there too will, I am sure, increase ticket sales."

Ensuring a real British theme in New York, also joining Ingle on the undercard will be Scotland's Commonwealth featherweight champion Scott Harrison and Belfast's light-welterweight Commonwealth champion, Eammon McGee.

Maloney revealed he had investigated the possibility of hiring a boat to take Ingle's fans from Scarborough harbour direct to New York.

"I was told it would be a six week journey so that more or less ruled it out," he joked.

"Then we tried to charter a plane from Leeds/Bradford airport But I was told the airport would not be big enough.

"However they get there though, I am sure a lot of people from Yorkshire will make the trip."

Ingle maintains he is unfazed by fighting in the Garden, host to some of the greatest fights in boxing's rich history.

"Being from Yorkshire and being the person I am it doesn't really matter to me where I am fighting. I have got a job to do and I have got to win," he said.

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