Shea Neary, profoundly proud of his Irish roots, is back in his late father's home town to defend his World Boxing Union light welterweight title at the National Stadium tomorrow night.

Born in Parnell Square in Dublin, Seamus Neary (Snr) emigrated to Liverpool in the late 1940s where he raised a big family. Now many of them are travelling by plane and boat from Liverpool at the weekend to watch Shea Neary (formerly Jimmy who took his father's name after his death) defend his world title against Mike Griffith from Ohio in the United States.

Reports suggest that as many as 1,000 Neary supporters will arrive in Dublin for the fight which is being shown live on ITV with a starting time of 10 o'clock.

Neary and his challenger came face to face for the first time at Shelbourne Stadium yesterday and neither was prepared to forecast an outcome. Branded as Britain's most exciting fighter by his promoter John Hyland, Neary has boxed under the name of The Shamrock Express in recognition of his Dublin and Waterford background and will be defending his WBU title for the sixth time. He has won all 21 of his fights in his professional career, 16 of those inside the distance. It is interesting to note that his last six fights have all been in his home town of Liverpool. In fact, 16 of his successes have taken place in Liverpool. Yesterday John Hyland said that Neary had always expressed an ambition to fight in Dublin. "In a way this is Shea's home away from home. Liverpool and Dublin are twin cities in a way and Ireland has given many great champions to the sport. "With boxers like Michael Carruth, Jim Rock, Willie Valentine and John O'Brien all from Dublin on the bill we expect huge support for Shea and the other Irish boxers. We can guarantee a fine night's boxing at the National Stadium and if everything works out for us we will come back here again because Shea wants to box at the Point Depot and defend his title there.

"This is a big event for Shea and we hope the Irish crowd as well as those travelling from Liverpool will show that professional boxing is alive and well in Dublin," Hyland said. Griffith, who once held the IBF version of the world light welterweight title, has had 26 professional fights, losing only five and scoring eight wins within the distance.

Yesterday he said he was very pleased by his reception in Dublin. "Everybody has been very helpful and kind. I want to get home as soon as possible because my wife is expecting a baby within the next week or so but I intend to take the world title belt with me when I go," he said.

There has been a change of opponent for Michael Carruth. He was to have met Larant Szabo from Hungary, although Szabo injured his hand in training and has been replaced by another Hungarian light middleweight, Zoltan Szili.