Jordan Thompson and Jai Opetaia's fight is not far away now...

Image source, Matchroom

Image source, Matchroom

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You can listen in to commentary of the IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and Jordan Thompson on BBC Radio 5 Live.

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Boxing expert Steve Bunce has you covered ahead of tonight's main event.

He has been speaking with IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and challenger Jordan Thompson.

You can listen to the full preview here.

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Big win for Cheavon Clarke!

He's just sealed a unanimous decision win against Vasil Ducar to claim the IBF International cruiserweight title.

That was a fun watch.

Main event is up next.

Over at York Hall, Caroline Dubois is headlining while Viddal Riley is currently in action.

The YouTuber turned boxer is fighting Nathan Quarless for the English cruiserweight title.

They're into the sixth round and Riley had Quarless on the ropes right at the end of the fifth and appears to be bossing the bout so far.

Image source, Boxxer

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A moment of calm for the champ Jai Opetaia before he steps out into the OVO Arena for the first defence of his IBF cruiserweight title.

Speaking to DAZN in the dressing room earlier tonight, Opetaia said: "We're finally here, it has been a while.

"It feels good, it's all part of the journey I just want to get in there. I've been talking about it for so long.

"I'm nice and relaxed, just where I should be. It's just another day in the office.

"We'll go out there, adapt and do what we do.

"Tonight has my full focus. I'll think about that [the future] when it comes."

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The mood seems pretty relaxed in the dressing room of Jordan Thompson.

He had a visit from Darren Barker earlier tonight. Some words of advice from the former IBF middleweight champion?

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After an impressive amateur career, Jai Opetaia turned professional in August 2015, beating Isileli Fa by unanimous decision in a four-round cruiserweight contest in New Zealand.

Opetaia jumped between cruiserweight and heavyweight in the early stages of his career.

A first title came just 16 months after Opetaia turned professional and in his seventh fight, winning vacant ANBF New South Wales heavyweight belt.

He continued to pick up belts on a domestic and international level, competing regularly across Australia to build a 21-0 record.

Opetaia's big opportunity arrived in 2022 when a bout with IBF cruiserweight Mairis Briedis was agreed.

After several postponements due to Covid-19 and injury, they eventually got it on in Australia's Gold Coast, with Opetaia winning by unanimous decision.

Opetaia broke his jaw in two places during that victory and required surgery, so that's why we haven't seen him in action since!

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Mairis Breidis lost the IBF cruiserweight title to Jai Opetaia in July.

The Latvian will be keenly watching on when the main event gets going.

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IBF bantamweight champion Sunny Edwards (left) and IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina (right) are both back in action before the end of 2023.

Edwards takes on American Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez in a world flyweight unification championship bout on 16 December in Arizona.

Cordina will defend his title against American Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo on Saturday, 4 November.

Image source, Matchroom

A chance for Sandy Ryan (left) to forget what happened last week?

The Brit was left frustrated as her bid to become the unified world welterweight champion ended in a draw with Jessica McCaskill.

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert

We look at this weekend, Charlo and Canelo fighting each other with 100 fights between them.

But Jordan Thompson and Jai Opetaia have just 37 fights between them.

Boxing is changing. Thompson doesn’t even have an amateur record. He was a genuine English protégé in tennis. He was this freak of a talent. Had this amazing run as a youngster, crushing opponents. And then suddenly his advantages diminished as everyone began to get taller and stronger.

He switched to boxing after 18, was never in an amateur gym. He's a great underdog story. No amateur experience and we’re talking about all-time upsets if he pulls it off.

If it was September, October last year just a few times after Opetaia had beaten Mairis Briedis I would have given Thompson no chance. So we’re hoping the last year will be a factor.

Image source, Getty Images

There's also action over in the USA later tonight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defending his undisputed super-middleweight title against Jermell Charlo, who is the undisputed champion at light-middleweight.

That should get under way at around 04:00 BST in Las Vegas.

It is hard to argue with Mexican's record - he has 10 wins in his past 11 world-title fights, however, he feels challenger Charlo doubts his ability.

"I have nothing to prove in this fight. But I have something to prove to him," Alvarez said.

"He never believed in my skills. He always calling me out and never believed in my skills.

"Now I have the opportunity to show him my skills and that motivates me."

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It's a double-header in the capital tonight with Olympian Caroline Dubois featuring at York Hall.

Dubois takes on Mexicvo's Magali Rodriguez for the vacant IBO lightweight title.

The Londoner weighed in at 8st 9lbs, with Rodriguez a pound lighter.

It is Dubois' first attempt to win a title as a professional and she wants to deliver in style - targeting a "knockout", which would be her sixth in a row if she pulls it off.

"I've had to learn that the hard way going through my career as an amateur that the only person that is going to mess me up is me," Dubois said.

"It takes discipline and sacrifice and I've had to learn that. A lot of the times the hard ways. I'm on that journey and I'm getting that."

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

It's a low turnout at the OVO Arena. There is no other way to put it.

In fairness, we have a Mancunian and an Aussie fighting in London - it was never going to sell out a stadium. As such, the top section is shut and there are several empty seats dotted around.

With a number of fighters on the undercard, much of the attendance is probably friends, families and the odd fans for a specific fighter, rather than a general boxing audience.

Perhaps we'll get a barnstormer of a main event to make up for it.

We're into the sixth round between Cheavon Clarke and Vasil Ducar.

Dave Coldwell trained Tony Bellew to a world-title triumph at cruiserweight and he's been impressed with Clarke.

"Chev looking very good so far," the coach said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

His former pupil Bellew just said on DAZN commentary: "A stoppage now would prove he's ready for the next step up."

Image source, PA Media

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

Jai Opetaia won his title with a surprise points win over Latvia's Mairis Briedis in July 2022, but has not fought since.

He suffered a double fracture to the jaw, resulting in surgery and metal plates. Opetaia then had court battle with a former promoter to contend with.

How will the ring rust affect the Sydney fighter? He's also suggested that final preparations have not been great, criticising the lack of facilities at the London hotel he has been staying in.

Perhaps the stars are aligning for a shock Thompson victory.

Image source, Matchroom

Jai Opetaia might be stepping into the ring as the IBF cruiserweight champion, however, he's not yet established himself as a household name.

So what do we know about the 28-year-old?

Opetaia was born in Sydney, Australia and enjoyed quite the amateur career.

After winning light heavyweight title at 2011 Junior World Championships, Opetaia, aged just 16, earned a spot as a heavyweight on Australia's team for the 2012 Olympics.

He was the youngest-ever Australian Olympic boxer but didn't get beyond the first round in London.

That's the serious stuff. How about a couple of fun facts?

Opetaia is related to former Everton and Australia international footballer Tim Cahill and ex-rugby league player Ben Roberts.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

Jordan Thompson looks every part of an elite athlete. The 6ft 7in challenger - with a five inch height advantage - towered over Jai Opetaia at Friday's weigh-in and looked in sensational shape.

But Thompson has never fought anyone of Opetaia's level. He is up against it tonight. If he pulls it off, it will be a huge shock.

Image source, Getty Images

After being unable to pursue a long-term career in tennis, it was back to the drawing board for Jordan Thompson, who says he "fell into boxing".

With so much potential, it would have been a waste to step away from sport altogether.

At a towering 6ft 7in, Thompson is an intimidating figure and, having started training in boxing to fill his time, friends suggested he had the tools to go on and achieve something in the sport.

"I didn't know what to do with myself. I was lost, searching for answers about myself and life," Thompson says. "I didn't have a job, I wasn't working. I was just in the gym, training.

"Boxing just happened to find me, rather than me finding boxing As I got more and more involved, people told me I had a bit of natural talent and ability.

"I remember sparring with professional boxers preparing for British title shots when I was an absolute raw novice and still holding my own."

Image source, Getty Images

The heart will be pumping and the nerves will be building for Jordan Thompson as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

But pressure is nothing new to Thompson.

The Manchester-born fighter has always seemed destined for life as a sportsman.

His parents Geoff and Janice Thompson, are former karate world champions.

Thompson didn't initially fancy a career in combat sports, though, admitting tennis was his "first love".

"I was top 10 in the under-16s and under-18s nationally," says Thompson.

"I was number one in Lancashire for a while. I travelled the world, up and down the United Kingdom. I loved it."

He put down the racket aged 18 when he struggled to bring in enough sponsorship to fund his travel to different tennis competitions.

"A lot of sponsorship was needed and it was tough to get," Thompson says. "That was the main reason I couldn't fulfil my potential - a lack of funding.

"I come from a hard-working family. I never went without food in my belly or a roof over my head, but I didn't have the luxury of a millionaire funding my tennis career."