Kal Sajad
BBC Sport journalist at Selhurst Park

It’s not just the rain which is dampening the mood. There are strong winds in the capital today too, and I’ve been reliably told that if they exceed 30mph then the big TV screens above the ring will have to be taken down – which is not good news for those fans sitting in the upper stands.

I think we're fine, for now.

It's a boxing live text, so you just know we've got to give you the obligatory hand-wrapping pictures from backstage.

Shane McGuigan is Chris Billam-Smith's head coach while Richard Riakporhe is trained by Angel Fernandez.

Image source, Boxxer

Image source, Boxxer

Lewis Hamilton? Pep Guardiola? Adam Wharton? Cristiano Ronaldo?

Richard Riakporhe - an avid Crystal Palace supporter - has gone rogue as he builds his ultimate fighter using the categories of jab, heart, chin, IQ, engine, footwork, power and aura.

Image source, BOXXER

Playing football professionally is a dream harboured by so many kids up and down the country but the vast majority of us never make it that far.

Crystal Palace fan Richard Riakporhe falls firmly into that category.

Tonight, he gets the opportunity to step out on to Palace's hallowed turf - sort of - when he faces WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith.

OK, Riakporhe probably won't get a foot on the grass and Eagles manager Oliver Glasner won't be directing him from the dugout but it's as close as it's ever going to get.

“I dreamed at playing football here, so to be boxing it seems I’m living vicariously through something else,” Riakporhe told BBC Sport.

BBC Sounds

Steve Bunce is back with another instalment of the boxing podcast.

This week he spent time with the two fighters in the main event - Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe - and he also picked the brain of promoter Ben Shalom.

Ben Whittaker, as you'd expect, was on good form too.

Listen to the full episode here.

Dan George
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park is filling up as we draw closer to the main event of the evening.

After some earlier showers it has dried up but it is very chilly from ringside.

Image source, BBC Sport

And there is no shock.

All three judges score it in Whittaker's favour.

One had it 100-89 with the other two scoring it 99-90.

Whittaker moves to 8-0.

If there was another minute at the end of that fight then Ben Whittaker may have secured a knockout.

A flurry of punches through Arenyeka's guard left the Nigerian with a bloodied nose and his hands came down to his waist.

Arenyeka looked unsteady on his feet but time was on his side.

Now we wait for the decision but it should be straightforward enough.

It's the final round.

Does Whittaker have enough left in the tank to go after a stoppage or will he go the distance for the third time in his career.

We've got a brief break in the action as Whittaker's gumshield falls out of his mouth and his trainer needs to put it back in.

Everything Arenyeka throws looks very laboured.

He backs Whittaker on to the ropes but can't keep him there.

Whittaker lands a left to the body and then follows with a combination to the head.

Arenyeka is hurt. Whittaker goes chasing after him but can't do any further damage. We go to the scorecards.

Image source, Boxxer

Dan George
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

Whittaker's ability to get in and out is very effective.

His movement and head speed is very impressive, so much so that Arenyeka earlier threw a big shot which Whittaker dodged causing the Nigerian to stumble.

Into the final round, Whittaker looking to land big.

@JohnPullen12 on X: "Has to be Paul 'scrap iron' Ryan - who can top that?"

@SteveWB170 on X: "Favourite nickname? I'd have to go with 'Hands of Stone' Roberto Duran."

Whittaker has some very unorthodox attacks in the locker but Arenyeka's defence is just as unorthodox - he crosses his arms in front of his face and unsurprisingly it does little to keep Whittaker's jab at bay.

A right hand from Arenyeka but Whittaker isn't home.

Another round in the bag for Whittaker.

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Perkins: "Whittaker’s so exciting to watch, man. So sure in his abilities, so confident."

This is Whittaker's first 10 round fight and he could be going the distance, albeit with a very comfortable unanimous decision win the likely outcome.

That may be a good thing for the Olympian as he continues to build through these early stages of his career.

A wild right hook from Arenyeka is seen from a mile off by Whittaker and he ducks out of the way before countering with a right to the body.

The pace of this fight has slowed dramatically but these rounds are being ticked off by Whittaker.

Natasha Jonas
Unified light-middleweight champion on Sky Sports

The little upper body shots from Whittaker do not have much power, but they do make you move which makes them so effective.

Matthew Macklin
Former boxer on Sky Sports

It is about landing those four or five punch combinations to open up the body.

Arenyeka is really losing his head here.

The referee has just deducted a point from the Nigerian for an elbow.

Image source, Getty Images

Natasha Jonas
Unified light-middleweight champion on Sky Sports

I think that headbutt was out of frustration a little bit from Arenyeka.

Dan George
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

OH!

There's a headbutt from Arenyeka at the end of the sixth round.

Whittaker tried to guide Arenyeka back to his corner and he responded with a headbutt.

They are spoken to by the referee before they start the seventh round.

Image source, Reuters

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport journalist at Selhurst Park

Tasha Jonas can talk about great jabs and Matthew Macklin will tell you about those punch combinations.

Me? Well my trained eye will inform that Arenyeka just punched Whittaker on the backside and was warned by the referee.