Oleksandr Usyk said he was "grateful for his team, family and wife" at Thursday's news conference.

Daniel Dubois insisted he "is ready and confident" and has "left no stone unturned" after doing his suffering during training camp.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw

There has already been a terrific win for a British fighter against a Ukrainian this evening. A sign of things to come?

Middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz extended his unbeaten record by stopping Dmytro Mytrofanov.

After dropping his opponent three times in the first, Sheeraz finished it off early in the second.

A stylish performance in his 18th pro fight, with Sheeraz saying he hoeps to lands a world-title shot next year.

Denys Berinchyk and Anthony Yigit look to be going the distance.

It's round 12 and they are both swinging pretty wildly.

WBO International lightweight champion Berinchyk is well clear on the cards by my count but he's game for a brawl in the closing stages.

Daniel Dubois isn't paying too much attention to being labelled a major underdog.

Dynamite insists it's his time and says he's "ready to deliver".

Image source, Getty Images

WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois has the unenviable task of trying to become the first fighter to defeat Oleksandr Usyk tonight.

Dubois has responded well from his sole career loss - a knockout defeat at the hands of Joe Joyce in 2020 - to win four in a row.

His reward is a first-ever world championship bout but few are giving the 25-year-old, who has claimed 18 of his 19 wins by knockout, any serious consideration against a two-weight champion.

"Everything is about timing," Dubois told BBC Sport.

"It's about this time, for me right now to go out there and prove to the world that I am the best, and take the belts home.

"This is the time of the young dog. The young blood to come in here and steal the show."

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw

Just felt a raindrop. This will dampen the mood for those not under cover.

Image source, Getty Images

Five months after Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua for the first time to become heavyweight champion, he found himself defending his country, manning barricades and cruising the streets on the lookout for Russian soldiers.

In August 2022, after being given approval to leave the country by the Ukrainian government, he beat Joshua in the Saudi rematch.

A London 2012 Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Usyk's achievements - both in and out of the ring - have pushed him towards national treasure territory.

Usyk's charitable work through his foundation, providing aid and funds for those affected by the war, and the way in which he has carried himself since Russia's invasion has truly captured Ukrainian hearts.

He has met with and befriended soldiers on the front-line, many of who he still keeps in touch with.

The 36-year-old insisted the Joshua rematch was free to watch on state TV in Ukraine, a move which hit his pockets the hardest.

Ticket prices for his defence against Dubois start at £9.40, while British fight fans will be charged more than double to watch it on pay-per-view.

"Every day in Ukraine it's alarms, danger, bomb attacks. I cannot think about it," says Oleksandr Chepilko, a Ukrainian boxing reporter.

"Our phones have so many alarms. But when I think of boxing, of seeing Usyk fight, it makes my heart better.

"If Usyk was to go for a presidential election, he would win it. Mothers, daughters, guys, kids, elders, everybody knows him".

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw

I received an alert on my phone just now warning of potential thunderstorms this evening. I've had the same alert three times already this week. They've all been false alarms.

In other news, there's a lot of techno being played out in the stadium. Yet to hear 'Sweet Caroline' though. Not sure if there are many Neil Diamond fans from Poland or Ukraine.

Denys Berinchyk and Anthony Yigit are currently in the ring and heading into round eight.

Ukraine's Berinchyk is unbeaten in 17 fights and is making the eighth defence of his WBO International lightweight title.

Yigit has 27 wins from his 31 fights, losing three and drawing one.

Aadam Hamed, son of former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed, is up next - making his professional debut - against Vojtech Hrdy and then it's main event time.

Image source, Getty Images

Thursday's news conference was a well mannered affair and coincided with Ukraine's Independence day.

The media-only event took place exactly 18 months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began and 32 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union.

Oleksandr Usyk, 36, received a gift from the Ukrainian army - an icon painted on a wooden board used by soldiers.

Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk set the tone with a rallying cry about Ukrainian war efforts.

"It is a special day for many of us. Our soldiers are struggling on the front line defending our country," he said.

"Ukraine is fighting for our independence. God bless Ukraine and God bless the people of Ukraine."

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw

Here we go. It does not get much bigger than this.

A stadium fight for the unified heavyweight championship of the world.

Oleksandr Usyk is the favourite, with the support of thousands of Ukrainians behind him.

Daniel Dubois is the underdog, already written off by pretty much everyone.

However unlikely it is, shocks do happen. It’s why we love the sport and why we tune in.

Image source, Getty Images

Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw, Poland is the setting for tonight's heavyweight world title bout between WBA 'Super', WBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk and WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.

Usyk is making just his fifth visit to the ring as a heavyweight and he's already made a huge impact on the division, becoming a unified champion after just three fights courtesy of a unanimous decision victory against Anthony Joshua in September 2021.

The Ukrainian defended those belts in a rematch with AJ and he faces another Brit tonight with heavy-hitting Dubois looking to cause an upset.

There has been talk of a thunderstorm in the region around the time we're set to get the main event - fingers crossed it holds off!