Michael Buffer is in the ring ready to start screaming. He's not seen for long, but it's always special - and very profitable for him

Tweet Twixteen: The sad reality is that this could have been one of the most exciting and enduring eras of the heavyweight division of the last few decades. Such contrasting styles between Wilder, Joshua and Fury would have made for some memorable contests. Money talks. Shame!

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Image source, .

So how big has AJ gotten in New York and America.

To tell you the truth, not very. Yet. Could he walk down a street and not be mobbed, almost certainly.

This is a tough city to crack. In Las Vegas, fights take over the famous strip. In New York, it’s hard to cut through in a place so vast and relentless.

One of my favourite comments this week came from Thomas Hauser - an incredible boxing writer who penned one of the most respected books on Muhammad Ali. Hauser said Joshua could walk a street untroubled in the US and summed up the fact a messy heavyweight scene does no one any favours.

He said: “Mark Twain once said of Wagner’s music – “it’s better than it sounds”. Well Andy Ruiz is a better fighter than he looks but to the uninitiated that doesn’t come across, so that hurts this event.

“The heavyweight division now is a mess. The title was the most coveted in sports. Right now that throne is vacant. Boxing fans are being deprived, the sport is being deprived and the fighters are deprived of being considered great.”

Word.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Anthony Joshua is a superstar in the UK and they are trying to make him a superstar in the States. He has to keep winning and that brings its own pressure.

It wouldn't be an Anthony Joshua fight without a bit of Neil Diamond.

Altogether now, Sweet Caroline, (bom bom bom), good times never seemed sooooo good - so good, so good, so good!

There's your five-minute warning, people.

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Anthony Joshua has very long arms and he knows how to throw at range.

Andy Ruiz Jr is going to need to move his head and do something he has never done before, and punch at clusters.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Image source, .

Artist Patrick J Killian gets himself to big fights and paints the fighters. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in boxing and today is no different.

Anyone fancy this above their fireplace?

Image source, .

Steve Bunce
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing pundit at Madison Square Garden

I think Andy Ruiz Jr will give it everything tonight. I think he will go for broke and he has been the calmest man in New York this week.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

AJ has a lot of casual fans who will look at the shape of the opponent and think he cannot fight, but he can.

Nonetheless, AJ is too big and too athletic, and I think it will be a shootout. It could be over in three rounds.

Not long now! We're seeing the greats of boxing, including Gennady Golovkin, ringside. Everyone is expecting good things from Anthony Joshua. Will it be his own fairytale of New York?

A chance to impress the American fans for Joshua, in his first ever fight in the USA.

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I'm expecting a lot of action. Andy Ruiz Jr may not look the best heavyweight but if you look at his record, he put on a great performance against Joseph Parker. He can actually fight so you shouldn’t let his appearance distract you.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Image source, .

Shout out to Faz, Steven and Steve, who have made it to New York from Derby.

They’ve followed Anthony Joshua to a tonne of fights and all agree he wins early tonight.

Paul Smith, brother of Callum said: "He can punch but he is technically very correct and he will not throw it until it's perfect. He is a perfectionist and he takes that into the ring. As a kid he would try things that were more advanced but everything is coming into shape at exactly the right time.

"All he wants to do is cement his legacy and he wants to see how far he can go with the remaining years of his career. He has just had a baby in January and he had some time off but he is back and the next fight will be against a big name. We are a very close family and when one of us wins, we all win. The three wives are all watching it together."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Callum Smith said: "It was all about the performance this week and I wanted people to sit up and take notice. I knew if I stayed patient I would land and the fight played out as I thought it would.

"I'm pleased to be back and I want some big fights now. I'm huge for the weight and it's getting tougher but I can still do it and I believe i can clean up."

Image source, Reuters

Right, let's hear some more reaction from Callum Smith's convincing win over Hassan N'Dam...

Steve Bunce
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing pundit at Madison Square Garden

Andy Ruiz is a deceptive fighter. His feet looked great in the public workout. He is fast when he lets his hands go.

Anthony Joshua has won all of his 22 fights, with 21 of those victories inside the distance. These are his victims so far...

Round 1: Emanuele Leo, Hector Alfredo Avila, Matt Legg, Michael Sprott, Gary Cornish

Round 2: Paul Butlin, Hrvoje Kisicek, Dorian Darch, Matt Skelton, Denis Bakhtov, Raphael Zumbano, Kevin Johnson, Charles Martin

Round 3: Konstantin Airich, Jason Gavern, Eric Molina

Round 7: Dillian Whyte, Dominic Breazeale, Alexander Povetkin

Round 10: Carlos Takam

Round 11: Wladimir Klitschko

Gone the distance: Joseph Parker

Watch as Anthony Joshua and his opponent Andy Ruiz Jr took to the scales on Friday, ahead of their heavyweight fight at Madison Square Gardens in New York.