Summary

Media caption,

Dad told me at six that I'd be world champion - Dubois

  1. What are trying to tell us, Frank?published at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Frank Warren gives the thumbs upImage source, Getty Images
    Frank Warren gives a saluteImage source, Getty Images
  2. How to follow Beterbiev v Bivol 2?published at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    With such an incredible fight card lined up for Saturday, it's only right that we make sure you can stay across all of the action.

    Every fight will be broadcast live, with radio commentary starting from 16:30 GMT on the BBC Sport website and app, before switching to BBC Radio 5 Live at 19:30.

    Radio commentary will begin with an all-British light-heavyweight fight between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith.

    The team at ringside will be Jeanette Kwakye, Steve Bunce and Ronald McIntosh, who will be joined by former world champion Josh Warrington on commentary.

    And why not have that commentary on in the background while you are reading our live text commentary from 18:30 on fight night?

    Highlights of the fights will be available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app on Sunday morning.

    From 16:30, live on the BBC Sport website and app:

    • Joshua Buatsi v Callum Smith
    • Zhilei Zhang v Agit Kabayel 
    • Vergil Ortiz Jr v Israil Madrimov

    From 19:30, live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds:

    • Carlos Adames v Hamzah Sheeraz 
    • Shakur Stevenson v Josh Padley
    • Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker
    • Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol 
  3. Dubois watch in Saudipublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Dubois v Parker

    We have actually seen plenty of Daniel Dubois this week already. He was at the grand arrivals on Tuesday and took part in the open workout on Wednesday.

    There was no sign of anything amiss then, and he was all smiles when he did his official photographs on Monday as well.

    Daniel Dubois smilesImage source, Getty Images
    Daniel Dubois flexes his musclesImage source, Getty Images
    Daniel Dubois smiles as he hoes through the ropesImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    That's it with the first section of tonight's news conference and those fighters we've just heard from will now face-off.

    I'll let you know if we get any fireworks.

    Undisputed light-heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker were due to be involved in the second section.

    We're not expecting Dubois to turn up though.

  5. Postpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on how the last 48 hours has been from his side:

    "It has been crazy but I have remained focused. I always come with the same mentality though.

    "I fought in the amateurs and this reminds me of that when you don't know who you will face next.

    "There's always a little bit of pressure but I'm locked in."

  6. Postpublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Briton Josh Padley who has jumped in on short notice to face WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson:

    "The last 48 hours has been crazy for me. This is what I dream of. It's the pinnacle.

    "This is everyone's dream if you get into boxing.

    "Not everyone gets the chance to compete for a world title and here I am."

  7. Postpublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Here's the moment we've all been waiting for... Josh Padley!

    Josh Padley in a giletImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    For the first time tonight we hear some chants from the crowd and they are in support of Vergil Ortiz Jr.

    He begins by thanking his team - coaches, training partners etc and goes on to make a big promise for his bout with Israil Madrimov:

    "It's going to be the best fight on the card. It will steal the show.

    "I'm privileged to be here and won't let this opportunity go to waste."

  9. Postpublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    We've got some top-tier promoters on the stage tonight and now it's over to Golden Boy chief Oscar De La Hoya.

    De La Hoya promotes Vergil Ortiz Jr and has a warning for his opponent Israil Madrimov:

    "Every opponent single opponent, except for one, has gone done, has been knocked out. Not only does it show how strong and active he is but it shows how smart he is.

    "He wants to put on a show."

  10. Postpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Now for a prediction from WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames:

    "I'm sure it will be a very good fight but it won't be a decision."

  11. Postpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Another Briton takes the mic.

    Hamzah Sheeraz is asked about facing WBC middleweight world champion Carlos Adames:

    "I'd like to thank Frank Warren, who believed in my when no one else did.

    "When it comes to this level I have never been a man to say too many words, I just go about my business and Saturday is no different."

  12. Who could replace Dubois against Parker?published at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    I wonder how many fighters will be lining up to replace Daniel Dubois?

    Obviously the IBF world title will not be on the line should the champion, Dubois, pull out and Joseph Parker is hardly a man you want to fight on short notice.

    Briton Fabio Wardley appeared to put his name forward via social media before insisting it was a joke.

    Just now, Martin Bakole's trainer Billy Nelson hinted his heavyweight would be ready to step in.

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  13. Postpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Heavyweight Zhilei 'Big Bang' Zhang, who faces Abit Kabayel:

    "My confidence comes from my training and my discipline.

    "I'm the big bang. I will bang you."

    Zhilei Zhang laughs at a news conferenceImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    British light-heavyweight rivals Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith keep it short and sweet.

    Both deliver messages along the lines of "we will see on Saturday".

  15. Postpublished at 18:23 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Brown continues by hinting there is something going on behind the scenes with regard to Joseph Parker.

    We brought you the news earlier that his fight against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois is in doubt with the Briton "sick and being evaluated by a doctor".

    Brown says:

    "Our other fighter, don't forget Joe Parker as well, we're just trying to sort that out at the moment."

    Joseph Parker smilesImage source, Getty Images
  16. Postpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Spencer Brown, who manages Agit Kabayel, Hamzah Sheeraz and Joseph Parker, is invited to speak.

    Brown says:

    "I'm sitting next to what I think will be a future heavyweight champion of the world [Agit Kabayel]. I believe the same for Hamzah too.

    "Hamzah is an exemplary human being and, for me, he's the best middleweight in the world right now."

  17. Padley steps up on short noticepublished at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Stevenson v Padley

    Josh Padley holds up his hand and is wearing a boxing gloveImage source, Getty Images

    If you missed the news earlier in the week about Josh Padley's late call then allow me to get you up to speed.

    Briton Padley has the opportunity to pull off a major upset when he faces WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on Saturday.

    Padley, ranked number 12 by the WBC, accepted the call to face American Stevenson on just four days' notice after Floyd Schofield Jr was forced to withdraw.

    Schofield Jr was removed from the fight on Tuesday after being hospitalised - his father posted a picture of the American in a hospital bed on Wednesday and denied he was "ducking" the fight, but did not give any further details.

    A statement from Schofield Jr's promoters Golden Boy said the fighter "fell ill" but had now been released from hospital and was awaiting "results of his medical evaluation".

    The British Boxing Board of Control, which is overseeing the Riyadh fight night, made the decision to cancel Schofield Jr's bout.

    Yorkshireman Padley is undefeated in 15 fights and beat Mark Chamberlain in September, but this represents a huge step up in opponent.

  18. Postpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn begins talking about a late change of opponent for Shakur Stevenson:

    "We found a replacement in a way that warmed my soul.

    "We have given a life changing opportunity to a fighter in Josh Padley. A guy who was in training and ready for a phone call that got him on a plane the next day to fight for a world title.

    "In this sport fighters have to strive for legacy but they also need to make sure they can live a good life financially after they are done in the sport."

    Eddie Hearn speaks at a news conferenceImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn who promotes Shakur Stevenson, Israil Madrimov and Callum Smith is next to speak.

    Hearn says:

    "I feel lucky, I feel like a fight fan that is going to have one of the greatest nights on Saturday."

  20. Postpublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February

    Queensberry promoter Frank Warren is first on the mic but he's not giving anything away about his fighter Daniel Dubois just yet.

    Warren begins by speaking about Hamzah Sheeraz:

    "He is getting better and better.

    "If there was ever a moment for him to become world champion, this is it."