British heavyweight Frazer Clarke: "Tell ya what … this is going to be the start of something special so far these fights are perfectly matched … I think that team aspect brings out that little bit more in everyone."

British cruiserweight Jordan Thompson: "This will end up a fight of the year contender."

Ten rounds in and it is still either man's title at this stage.

It is easy to have your eyes glued on Ball's movement, the way he throws his hands and that no matter what Ford lands on him, he battles back.

The more this fight has progressed, the more Ford has opened up his body, not just his punches but more noticeably, his footwork too.

Former welterweight world champion Shawn Porter: "Pay attention. Ford starts every round. First 40-50sec confident and aggressive, then it slowly turns Ball's way."

That tweet from Hearn must have done the trick for Ford. He took control for large chunks of rounds seven and eight.

Ball has thrown over 150 more punches than Ford, but Ford's percentage landed is higher. It has shown his ability to ride the storm and make his blows count.

A good right hook from Ball lands and Ford instantly fights back with a combination that Ball sees off well.

A brilliant contest so far nine rounds in.

Image source, Matchroom

Matchroom's Eddie Hearn and Queensberry's Frank Warren can't take their eyes off this fight.

Queensberry are leading Matchroom 1-0 after Willy Hutchinson beat Craig Richards by unanimous decision in the opener.

Nick Ball can pull Matchroom level if he gets a win by decision or could edge them into a 2-1 lead if he manages to stop Raymond Ford in these final rounds.

The WBA featherweight title is also on the line.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn on X: "What a fight! Big, much needed round from Ray in the 7th!"

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport boxing reporter

Ford is not one to ever sleep on. He won the title with a dramatic 12th round stoppage win over Otabek Kholmato in March, having been down on the cards.

This is a terrific fight. So far, five versus five is living up to the hype.

Having first cut Ball open in the seventh, a couple of big punches from Ford has really led to Ball looking a lot more beat up than he did just two rounds ago.

Ball's energy is still at a high level, but Ford is now getting more power behind these landed punches.

A tangle of the feet with Ball leads to Ford briefly dropping to the floor, but we're now starting to see his quality really shine through.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Matchroom

These boxing events in Saudi Arabia tend to see the big names of sport and entertainment turn out in good numbers.

The arena is far from packed as the undercard continues to unfold but I have spotted two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua watching on from the front row.

He was in his seat for the opening contest between Willy Hutchinson and Craig Richards.

It's exactly five years to the day since Joshua tasted defeat for the first time in his professional career, with Andy Ruiz Jr earning a TKO win to take the IBF, WBO and WBA world titles.

Tonight he has a spectating role, though, and he looks pretty comfy in his tracksuit.

The Olympic gold medallist will have his eyes locked in when the two heavyweight bouts take place later.

There's talk that he could be set to face the winner of Daniel Dubois v Filip Hrgovic for the IBF 'interim' heavyweight title, which may even get upgraded to the world title if Oleksandr Usyk is stripped, later this year.

A very open seventh round, Ford is starting to express himself more, he is more on the offensive and that is what he has needed.

The first two minutes are tight, but Ford then lands two big left-handers, comfortably the punch of the fight so far and with that, there's a slight momentum swing.

Of course, a knockout with seconds remaining last time out for Ford was something Ball has to be wary of.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport boxing reporter

This is why they call him 'Wrecking' Ball. A good comeback from Ford in that last round but this could become one-sided.

A bit of a comeback from Ford who has got some punches to land, but some have lacked a bit of a venom.

Ball has been rugged, energetic, ruthless, and in these last few rounds, clinical too.

At the halfway mark, Ball can be pleased with the damage he's inflicted on the champion so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Ford has just been told by his corner that he needs to tighten up his defences.

In the first three rounds, Ball was struggling to get many to land, for all of his endeavour.

In the last two, Ball has made the start of a breakthrough and Ford's team know it.

The range of punches thrown by Ball is really growing now, there's been a number of uppercuts that we did not really see in the first four rounds.

Not only has Ball thrown them, he's been to get a few to land and Ford has been taken aback.

A few cuts appearing on the face of Ford and Ball can know he has comfortably taken that round.

Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie: "This might be my fav fight of the night."

As Kal says, Ball has been the more energetic and eye-catching of the two, but Ford has remained measured and when he has thrown and in general, the quality of his punches have landed in stronger areas than Ball's have.

The same can be said in round four, but a left hook midway through the round from Ball is excellent, one of the few he has been able to get past Ford's defence.

Four rounds in, it is a close and enjoyable contest.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport boxing reporter

This is a high-quality contest. The cleaner, more accurate work is coming from Ford but the eye-catching shots - many of which are hitting the gloves - are from Ball.

Image source, Getty Images

Ball is comfortably the shorter of the two at 5'2", but he is using it to his advantage, able to get out of a number of Ford's punches by keeping himself low.

Ford started that round better than he did the previous two, but again, but it is Ball who appears to gaining early momentum and giving the champion plenty to think about.

Ford appears to have a cut under his right eye, the first sign of damage inflicted by either man so far.

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Deontay Wilder is the captain for team Matchroom so a knockout win would earn them four points.

That could prove decisive in the overall tally. Some clever selection from Eddie Hearn?

The first round was more of an exchange of singular blows, but both men have showed off what they can do with their combinations in the second. Especially Ball.

As Ford is still trying to deal with one punch, Ball has been able to land another two or three immediately.

Ford did manage to get a combination or two away, but not with the same quality that Ball had.

Image source, Getty Images