Woods' team is planning to superimpose a photograph of 20-year-old Brookes on the IBF belt carried head-high into the ring here in Tampa.

Some members of his corner will also wear T-shirts with a photo and message of support to the family of cruiserweight Brookes, fatally injured in a road accident recently.

Woods weighed in exactly on the 175lbs mark here yesterday in a ceremony gate-crashed by dozens of flag-waving Sheffield fans.

Chanting songs aimed at boosting Woods while ridiculing opponent Antonio Tarver they seemed to unsettle the American at times.

The ex film star made a tasteless cuth-throat gesture during the event at Tampa's Westin Harbour Island hotel.

"You're going down on the canvas" sang the Sheffield fight fans.
The pair contest their IBF and IBO light heavyweight belts at St Pete Times Forum, Tampa tonight.

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The Sheffield light heavy has no doubts about the magnitude of the task.
He told The Star: "This fight will be bigger than when I won the title beating Rico Hoye" he said, referring to the 2005 conquest at Rotherham's Magna Centre which made him IBF world champ.

Hoye was a feared puncher but he was not such a big a name as Tarver. Tarver must still be in the top 10 of the world's best known boxers. So this is massive for me.

"I've been asked for years when I am going to fight him because he is the person he is and the fact he was in the Rocky Balboa film.

"But I am confident. I know his pace and what mistakes he makes. There's a question mark over his work-rate. He does just enough to win. He keeps it so he's comfortable."

Tarver is bigger and has a longer reach. But Woods isn't fazed.
"I like fighting taller kids, it brings out the best in me.
"I am going to set a pace that will have him breathing out of his back side.

"He hasn't been in many fights that are toe to toe, bang-bang all night. Glen Johnson gave him a torrid time (when he beat him) and that's similar tactic I'll be using. But I'll be boxing with educated pressure, not rushing it. I'll be clever."

Hillsborough trainer Glyn Rhodes will be a corner man for British boxer Danny Williams on the Tampa bill tonight.

*American boxing website Eastsideboxing.com is predicting a Woods victory.
Writer Vivek Wallace writes: "Tonight Tarver will try to sell the world on why his last marquee victory (Jones) was no fluke, and why his last loss (Hopkins) was.
"Standing across from him will be a fighter whose skillset is far better than Tarver seems to be giving him credit for. If Tarver plans to make good on his prediction to win, he'll need to show the same type of hunger that he displayed against rival Roy Jones Jr. Tarver will need to keep sticking that jab out and mix his shots up. Woods isn't going to do Tarver any favors by being a standing target so Tarver is going to have to execute well.
"Tarver will find out that Woods is for real as the fight wears on. I expect Woods to outslick Tarver in a chess match with very few fireworks. In the end, I think Tarver fatigues and fails to muster the energy necessary to come out on top.
Prediction: Woods by Split Decision
"I just think that despite great moments, Tarver will tire out and fail to deliver the goods in the later rounds, losing a lead he will probably hold during the first 5 to 6 rounds of the fight."

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