NEW YORK – From afar, Ichiro Suzuki regarded the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as a boxing match played on a diamond.

Opponents of equal strength swinging away. That was his view.

“When I watch it, sometimes I thought of it kind of like a fight,” Ichiro said through his Japanese interpreter. “A physical, fighting atmosphere type of game.”

As the Yankees’ leadoff hitter tonight, Ichiro will get his first experience in the ring.

Injuries have staggered the Sox, but the first-place Yankees have had their own issues as the clubs meet for the first time this year at Yankee Stadium.

Alex Rodriguez, on the disabled list and lost until September due to a fractured left hand, will turn 37 today. Last weekend’s four-game sweep by Oakland bared the lineup’s vulnerabilities and cracks in the bullpen were exposed.

Yet the Yankees’ big AL East lead, the presence of Bobby Valentine’s bruised ball club and Ichiro’s pinstriped debut promise to lend an extra air of excitement in the Bronx.

“Ichiro’s a rock star,” A-Rod said. “He loves the bright lights. I think he’s going to love New York and I think New Yorkers are going to love him.”

Though he’s in the midst of his toughest season at the plate, “I think this guy is used to huge expectations,” said Manager Joe Girardi, who also promised to monitor the playing time of his 38-year-old outfielder. “I don’t want to wear him down.”

After too many seasons of playoff-less baseball with the Mariners, Ichiro seemed particularly pumped about joining the Stadium’s hyper-charged atmosphere.

But as he departed Seattle after 12 seasons, Ichiro humbly hoped the Bleacher Creatures would remember him in their first-inning roll call.

“Obviously I’ve only been there on the visitor’s side,” Ichiro said. “As a visiting player, you get a lot of fans heckling you a little bit, and I kind of enjoyed that with the fans.

“Now that I’m on the home side, I’m not sure what to expect, what the reaction would be. But I’m definitely excited.”

And he’s a bit concerned.

With all his stunning accomplishments as a hitter and a perennial Gold Glove winner, Ichiro hasn’t had to win over a new fan base since he left Japan for Seattle in 2001.

“If the fans feel that way toward me, I’m grateful,” Ichiro said of the cheery reception he’s bound to receive. “But I need to prove myself, to play to the level that the fans can really enjoy and think highly of my play.

“I really feel like I want to get there and show the fans what I can do.”

Traded to the Yankees on Monday for two minor league right-handers, just prior to a three-game series at Seattle, Ichiro went 3 for 12 with a double and a stolen base in two attempts against his former mates.

Seattle fans gave the 10-time All-Star a grand salute, understanding his desire to be traded to a contender — with a chance at playing in his first World Series — before his Hall-of-Fame worthy career ended.

“I think once the attention is gone, maybe I can relax and settle in a bit,” said Ichiro, whose past trips to New York often included extra shopping bags. “I’d have a lot of luggage leaving New York.”

Of all the sights in the city, Ichiro doesn’t think he’ll be visiting the stadium’s right-field seats with line drives too often.

“I usually hit the ball to left field, so the (short porch) might not matter much too much for me,” Ichiro said with a laugh.