Ben Dirs
BBC Sport at O2 Arena

"Michael Buffer is in the ring and I can confirm that he is getting ready to get ready to rumble so that the boxers can go ahead and rumble."

Image source, Getty Images

Some history for you and perhaps a fact which underlines just what Anthony Joshua can achieve tonight.

If he becomes the first man to ever beat Charles Martin - unbeaten in 24 - he will become only the third man to win a professional heavyweight world title while still a reigning Olympic champion.

Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, won light-heavyweight gold in 1960 before dethroning Sonny Liston in 1964; Leon Spinks won light-heavyweight gold in 1976 before dethroning Ali in the 1978 fight pictured above.

Here they come, Anthony Joshua looks like a god in a white robe as he leaves his dressing room.

How must he be feeling. The O2 is awash in strobe lights.

Yes, yes, yes, Rocky, Eye of the Tiger blasts around the O2.

Drink it in boxing fans, drink it in.

"Rising up, back on the street...."

BBC Sport's Tim Hague has a warning for us...

BBC Radio 5 live are broadcasting now. Just click 'live coverage' at the top of this page and you can listen in. The good people at the radio station have even spotted Mr Mourinho...

Telegraph boxing writer Gareth A Davies has been tweeting from ringside, and he's managed to catch up with Tony Bellew who reports that Anthony Joshua is relaxed in his changing room and, physically, looks like he's been sculpted from marble.

Not long now... although that main event might be pushed back looking at the time we're on now.

"Everyone wants to be on the winner’s side and for the majority of my career that’s going to be my side."

Those are the words of Anthony Joshua this week.

This determined, focused man is on a pathway to greatness. Did you know he's learning Spanish just to keep his mind active when he's not training?

Behind it all there's humility, he still lives at home with his mum, who incidentally cannot attend his fights because she doesn't like to see him in combat.

"I wouldn’t want her to come and see her son fighting, I think she’s rather me use my brains. But I’m good with my fists," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

If we look through the 24 fights Charles Martin has had, one in particular stands out, a 10th round stoppage of Raphael Zumbano Love, external in February of last year.

Zumbano Love came to Birmingham seven months later to face Anthony Joshua and lasted until just past a minute of round two. AJ detonated a straight right to the face which could have brought the white cliffs of Dover down.

Anthony Joshua is in white trunks and shadow boxing in his dressing room deep within the bowels of this arena. His entourage look on quietly.

What's his opponent up to? I'll bring you a stat next which tells me AJ can do this...

I don't know about you, but I'm up for this. 

The O2 is absolutely bouncing, it has the feel of a special night. We are being treated to so many good nights in British boxing at the moment, is this another?

Tweet me on #bbcboxing, what happens when these two trade leather.

Image source, Getty Images

Charles Martin is a dangerous customer, have no doubt, 23 wins and a draw tell the story.

But, before we dig into his record to see how durable a champion he is, it's worth remembering he won this belt when his opponent Vyacheslav Glazkov, external hurt his knee and retired from their bout in January.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then. Two Britons have defended their world titles and, as the White Stripes hit 'Seven Nation Army' gets the O2 Arena pumped, we await Anthony Joshua.

Promoter Jamie Sanigar seems pretty chuffed for Lee Selby...

George Groves reacts to his win: "Very happy. David Brophy is unbeaten and we didn't know how good he could be. Everything we wanted happened. 

"Anyone who wants to fight me is up against it from the get go. If we were playing chess I'm taking their queen with the jab.

"I hurt him in the first round and stopped him with a jab to the body, it shows the power I'm carrying.

"Everyone likes to talk about me like I'm a past-his-best fighter. They all have an agenda but I am only getting better. I spent two years working with someone who couldn't bring the best out of me. Now I'm with Shane McGuigan, he will bring the best out of me."

Trainer Shane McGuigan unties the gloves, we will bring you the quotes shortly.

The O2 is packed with celebrities and even with my poor celebrity knowledge, I'd say many of them are of the A-list variety.

We have a knockdown and it's David Brophy on the deck, this one is waved off. Howard Foster officiating can see the fight is gone inside four rounds.

A body shot from George Groves set the tone, it was a right across the body and into the right side of Brophy's guts. Instantly he was on the run, gasping for air and sanctuary. It came through the referee.

Job done for Groves.

Image source, PA