Former European super-bantamweight champion Gamal Yafai...

Image source, Getty Images

7. Beat Alexander Povetkin (Russia) 22 September 2018 – seventh round TKO – WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO – Wembley Stadium, London

In front 80,000 fans at Wembley, Joshua had a real battle on his hands before stopping Alexander Povetkin in the seventh after he had knocked him down twice earlier in the same round.

8. Beat Andy Ruiz (USA / Mexico) 7 December 2019 – Unanimous points decision – WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO – Diriyah Arena, Saudi Arabia

After suffering a shocking loss, the first of his career, to American-Mexican Andy Ruiz in New York six months earlier, Joshua got his revenge with a controlled performance in Saudi Arabia, winning by an eight-round margin on two cards and by 10 on the third.

9. Beat Kubrat Pulev (Bulgaria) 12 December 2020 – ninth round KO – WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO – Wembley Arena

Fighting for the first time in more than a year and in front of only 1,000 people because of coronavirus restrictions, Joshua got the job done with a dominant display over Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. Pulev was down in the third and then twice in the ninth and on the second occasion couldn’t get back up in time.

Jason: Just over a stone difference between them not as much as we would have thought over a year ago. I don’t think the height difference will have a major factor as Usyk will draw the lead hand and counter.

Kris: When AJ lost to Ruiz he wasn't fight focused, he was more concerned with being in the US & the bigger picture of the division. The build-up to this feels similar, it's all about Fury. But because Usyk is such a good technical boxer, AJ has to get him out of there and needs to have got his prep right to do that.

Cairnhill: Usyk is a lot better than Ruiz that's for sure.

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn: "I quite fancy an early one - it'd be nice. I don't want to be biting my fingernails, sitting there scoring it with my old man for four or five rounds.

"Let's just have a nice early one. Little shot, Charles Martin style, sit back, right hand to the southpaw down the pipe."

Sing-a-long time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Freed From Desire gets a blasting out and 67,000 people sing along.

How we've missed this over the past two years.

All together - na na na na na na na - etc etc etc

Oleksandr Usyk, speaking through a translator, said: "I can do a lot more.

"I feel fine and I look forward to this. I want to thank the team and Eddie Hearn and I'm grateful this is happening.

"Every fight makes history and I think me and Anthony will make another step in history, something that people will be talking about, remember and will be watching on television."

It was a pretty bland news conference on Thursday, bland that is apart from the Oleksandr Usyk suit.

My eyes!

We're live on BBC Radio 5 Live from 22:00 BST and presenter Jeanette Kwakye sums up the excitement the team are feeling.

World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says he would not like to face himself as an opponent ahead of his fight against undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine.

Heavyweight Dillian Whyte, who lost to Joshua in 2015: "It's a great fight and Joshua will stop him in the first six or seven rounds. Usyk will start fast and Joshua should be cagey as Usyk is a bit lighter.

"Joshua can sometimes lack confidence but hopefully he goes back to the old him, starts pressing, being the bigger, stronger guy and gets the job done early.

"If Joshua sets the pace, he can get an early knockout and if he is strong, confident and walks him down, then I don't see Usyk's punches troubling Joshua."

Former middleweight world title challenger Matthew Macklin...

Drogsbreath: Underestimate a cruiserweight moving up a division at your peril. I'm not placing Usyk in the same class as Holyfield but I remember how effective Evander was when he first fought at heavyweight because he carried his power with him and still had ring speed. If Usyk does the same AJ will have a fight on, although I think AJ will have too much for his opponent and I see a TKO.

Red Squirrel: AJ is playing with fire by fighting Usyk and I think he will get burned tonight.

WChris1999: I think this will be a good fight. Usyk is a fantastic boxer and moves well, I can see the fight going deep but the upper cut off AJ will prove very hard to cope with. AJ to win very late and Fury to win on points, then let's get the final fight we all want to see and the winner should face Whyte as he has waited long enough.

Fancy another celebrity spot? Of course you do. Olympic gold medallist athlete Mo Farah is next to be spotted. He's an Arsenal fan, but happy to be on away turf today.

Image source, Matchroom Boxing

Image source, Getty Images

4. Beat Wladimir Klitschko (Ukraine) 29 April 2017 – 11th round TKO – WBA, IBF, IBO – Wembley Stadium, London

Joshua added the WBA and IBO titles to his IBF belt with a hard-fought win over Wladimir Klitschko. The Ukrainian was knocked down in the fifth, recovered to put Joshua down in the next, but the Englishman, aided by a brutal uppercut, took charge late on, flooring Klitschko in the 11th before the fight was stopped.

5. Beat Carlos Takam (France) 28 October 2017 – 10th round TKO – WBA, IBF, IBO – Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Win number 20 of Joshua’s career came in Wales against tough Frenchman Carlos Takam. The away fighter suffered a cut above his right eye and was knocked down in the fourth, but battled on until the 10th before the referee had seen enough.

6. Beat Joseph Parker (New Zealand) 31 March 2018 – Unanimous points decision – WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO – Principality Stadium, Cardiff

For the first time in his then 21-fight career, Joshua was taken the distance but gained the verdict from the judges by 10 points on one card and eight on the other two to grab the WBO title out of the hands of New Zealander Joseph Parker.

KR: I've never known a fight which is so difficult to call. OK, AJ has the reach, speed and power but Usyk is speedier and has superior ring craft skills. If AJ can't lay a glove on Usyk and Usyk picks AJ off on the counter it could turn out to be a long night for AJ. Can Usyk avoid AJ for 12 rounds? If anyone can, Usyk can. AJ KO. or Usyk on points.

Ian: AJ's reach will be a big advantage. It will be cagey but I suspect Joshua will wear him down and KO in middle rounds.

Matt_5: I personally think Usyk is going to school him. AJ is always capable of the knockout but I don't feel he's in the same league as Usyk for boxing skill and technique. I've been wrong before though!

Promoter Eddie Hearn, boxer Lawrence Okolie and pundit Steve Bunce question whether "pound-for-pound king" Oleksandr Usyk can topple Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight title bout.

Boxing trainer Dave Coldwell expects Okolie to go much further...

Coral Barry
BBC Sport combat sports editor in London

That was clinical from Lawrence Okolie. The WBO champion appears so messy in his work, but hurt Dilan Prasovic badly in quick succession. Prasovic didn't even look at the referee as he counted him out in the third round.

Okolie proving he is a level above Prasovic and can now look forward to some bigger fights. Okolie having a quick chat with his trainer Shane McGuigan in the ring about his performance...wonder what the verdict was?

Image source, Matchroom Boxing