Both fighters are looking fairly relaxed in their changing rooms as they wait to get their call for the ring.

It's believed the delay to the start of the main event is linked to the medical assistance that had to be given to South Africa's Ludomo Lamati, who had to be stretchered away from the ring in the previous fight.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena

We're bouncing in Belfast now, with a little help from Sweet Caroline, the Fratellis and Venga Boys.

It won't be long until the ring walks, which we were expecting at 21:00, get under way.

If the fight matches the atmosphere then we are in for a cracker.

The SSE Arena is ready.

Lopez and Conlan, your stage awaits.

Image source, BBC Sport

It was the lowest point of Michael Conlan's professional career but his defeat by Leigh Wood last March was the 2022 fight of the year.

Here, Wood looks back on what was a truly memorable night.

It's nearly time for Michael Conlan as the Belfast fighter goes through his warm-up routine in his changing room.

Legendary promoter Bob Arum says he is sceptical that Michael Conlan's title bout with Luis Alberto Lopez is "make or break" for the Belfast fighter.

"It is going to be very important for him to get a title sooner rather than later," Arum told BBC Sport.

"For a boxer, life is limited, and you can't waste time."

Read more of Arum's pre-fight thoughts here.

Image source, BBC Sport

South African boxer Ludomo Lamati is having to receive medical treatment in the ring after losing that fight to Nick Ball.

His team threw the towel in during the 12th and final round of a contest in which he was under a lot of pressure.

Lamati is stretchered away from the ring and gets an encouraging applause from the crowd.

Liverpool;s Nick Ball beats Ludomo Lamati in the final undercard encounter before the main event.

The South African fighter's corner threw the towel in during the final round as Ball holds on to his WBC silver featherweight strap.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena

There's a huge cheer in the SSE Arena as the big screen shows Michael Conlan warming up in his dressing room.

Not long to go unti the main event.

We're into the final round of Nick Ball against Ludomo Lamati.

The highly-rated Liverpool fighter has been frustrated by South African Lamati, but he's on track for a comfortable points victory to retain his WBC silver featherweight strap.

Luis Alberto Lopez has previous when it comes to not reading the script and upsetting a fighter in his home city.

The Mexican stunned Leeds fighter Josh Warrington on his home soil by beating him on points in December to take the IBF featherweight world title.

The decision was greeted with boos from the disappointed home fans at Leeds Arena.

Read the fight report and watch highlights here.

Image source, Matchroom

The Belfast crowd have just seen shots in the arena of Michael Conlan limbering up in his changing room.

They liked it and are doing some limbering up of their own, by the sounds of things.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena

Bob Arum may feel that this fight isn't 'make or break' for Michael Conlan, but that's not the approach the Belfast fighter has been taking this week.

He earlier said his "whole life" is on this bout as he looks to become a world champion for the first time, acknowledging he won't be in the sport forever.

With the vocal home crowd, mood from the camp and his experience from the Leigh Wood fight, there is a feeling that this could be the 31-year-old's best chance at fulfilling his dream.

Lisburn fighter Kurt Walker has already secured a home win at the SSE by beating Maicol Velazco on the undercard earlier.

Image source, Inpho

Michael Conlan didn't hang about on his last competitive visit to the ring in the SSE Arena.

The Belfast featherweight beat Karim Guerfi with a sensational first-round knockout in December to move a step closer to tonight's world title fight.

It followed a victory over Miguel Marriaga in August after losing that dramatic world title fight against England's Leigh Wood in March.

Read more about the win over Guerfi here.

Image source, Inpho

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum says IBF featherweight holder Luis Alberto Lopez is a "tough kid" but Michael Conlan can win his first world title in Belfast on Saturday.

Michael Conlan is going through his warm-up routine in his changing room as we edge towards the time for the main event.

Not long to go now.

Will Belfast have a new world champion tonight?

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena

A week after Katie Taylor lost to Chantelle Cameron in her homecoming bout in Dublin, Irish title hopes are now placed on Michael Conlan.

He welcomes Luis Alberto Lopez to his backyard, and it will no mean feat to steal the IBF featherweight title off the Mexican.

The atmosphere won't be a problem for the 29-year-old - he claimed the title on Warrington's home turf in Leeds and he's also defeated Isaac Lowe in London. No mean feat.

Jamie Conlan admits it will be almost too tough to watch his brother Michael take on champion Luis Alberto Lopez for the IBF world featherweight title.

As both the manager and sibling of the challenger, Jamie knows just how big Saturday's fight in Belfast is.

"It's everything, watching his dream up close and personal - it's been a crazy ride," said Jamie.

Read more of Jamie's thoughts here.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a huge night for boxing in the UK, with three world title fights taking place in three different venues.

In Manchester, Nottingham's Leigh Wood challenges Mauricio Lara for the WBA featherweight title. In Bournemouth, Lawrence Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight title against Chris Billam-Smith. And in Belfast, local hero Michael Conlan takes on reigning IBF featherweight champion Alberto Lopez.

However, BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce was unequivocal in letting us know his thoughts on it.

In his column on the BBC Sport website, Bunce says is "an absolute disaster for boxing" and that it is "about the worst thing that can happen in this sport".

It's definitely worth a read - and you can do that here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena

The pre-fight build-up has been dominated by cries of 'and the new...' from Conlan's fans, which were always followed up by shouts of 'and still...' from the small, yet vocal travelling Mexican support.

Things have been building nicely around Belfast and it's surely a taste of the atmosphere to come later this evening.