Derek Chisora
Heavyweight on BBC Radio 5 Live

Every dice Parker is rolling right now, he's getting all sixes.

And there chimes the opening bell...

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

You have to be sensible and say Zhilei Zhang is expected to win after he walked through Joe Joyce.

But, the man I think will win is Joseph Parker.

Barry Jones
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

People say it's a really interesting fight but I'm really big on Zhang. He's got fast hands but if he touches you then you're going to sleep.

And it's now Zhilei Zhang with 'we will rock you' by Queen blasting out around the arena.

Zhang is dressed all in gold as he prepares to defend his WBO interim heavyweight belt.

Image source, Getty Images

It's chief support time.

Joseph Parker is the first to make the walk. He's looking loose and relaxed as jogs down to the ring, flicking out his arms.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is in the ring. The pair are training partners.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think that Joseph Parker's win over Deontay Wilder last year was the best heavyweight win of 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

Saudi Arabia is becoming a second home for Joseph Parker.

Tonight marks the third time in succession that the former WBO heavyweight champion fights in Riyadh, beating Simon Kean and Deontay Wilder in 2023.

Parker has won four in a row since losing against Joe Joyce in September 2022 and is on the right path to being in contention for a title shot down the line.

He faces Zhilei Zhang for the WBO interim heavyweight title tonight.

"Zhang doesn't scare me. I'm here for it and I want it all. I want all their smoke," Parker told BBC Sport.

"I'm living my best boxing life. I'm just having fun. I feel very blessed and privileged to be in this position. I'm in a position to enjoy it all."

China's Zhang makes the second defence of his interim heavyweight belt after back-to-back wins against Joyce last year.

Zhang stopped the Briton on both occasions but Parker isn't reading too much into those performances and feels he has levelled up since his loss to Joyce.

Parker said: "Styles make fights and my fight with Joe Joyce, he won. Better man than me, but there was a lot of things that didn't go my way and weren't right from camp.

"I'm a totally different fighter from when I fought Joe Joyce till now. I have a lot more to give, a lot more to offer. I've done everything right so I'm looking forward to a great performance."

Francis Ngannou embarks on just his second professional boxing fight with Anthony Joshua the man standing across the ring from him this time.

After going 10 rounds with Tyson Fury , the former UFC heavyweight champion has shown he can certainly box.

But how can he win? Is it even possible? We spoke to David Haye to find out.

"Ngannou needs to get close," Haye said.

"He needs to bring Anthony Joshua into a close quarters exchange, pulling and pushing, wrestling if he can.

"Drain Anthony Joshua's energy so once he loses that speed and foot conditioning, it's then a punch for punch situation."

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh

This is the same arena where Anthony Joshua dismantled Otto Wallin back in December, although it has been set out in a very different way.

Unlike last time, there are VIP press boxes - with plush white seating - across one side of the arena.

There are significantly more seats around the arena too, albeit still nowhere near full.

It was a civilised affair in the the foyer of the building when I walked in, with drinks and food being handed by waiting staff.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

While we're waiting for the action, why not take a read of Cindy Ngamba's inspirational story.

Nothing in life has come easy for Ngamba.

Since moving to the UK aged 10, Cameroon-born boxer Ngamba, who is hoping to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has had to overcome obstacles at every turn, on a personal and professional level.

After 15 years in England, the country she now proudly calls home, Ngamba is still fighting to be granted a visa and UK citizenship.

Without a British passport, Ngamba cannot fight for Team GB in this summer's Olympics.

"The contract that I needed to sign to get on the [Olympic] programme said you had to be a British citizen," Ngamba said.

"They couldn't help me and they had to let me go and it was devastating for me, but I knew that I had been through worse.

"It's not like I'm messing about here in the UK, I'm willing to work hard for it. I've gone through the same pathway that any British citizen kid would do."

But her dream of being at the Games still burns brightly after she won a scholarship with the IOC refugee team.

Read more about Ngamba's story here.

BBC Sounds

Barry Jones joins Steve Bunce in Riyadh to look ahead to a mad night of boxing.

We hear from Ngannou’s trainer Dewey Cooper, and from a young boxer that has sparred with both fighters.

And Liverpool’s Nick Ball, who fights Rey Vargas for the WBC featherweight title is also on the pod.

Listen to the full podcast here.

WBC featherweight champion Raymond Ford has been on X reacting to the fight, he posted "Nick Ball, I’ll still give you a shot at my title!"

Just before we move on to the heavyweight action... let's have a poll.

Hit the thumbs up below if you had that for Nick Ball or thumbs down if you thought Rey Vargas was the winner.

Former world champion Hannah Rankin: "Nick Ball for me."

Promoter Frank Warren: "Nick Ball should be a world champion tonight and will no doubt be in the very near future."

Coach Dave Coldwell: "Did I watch a different fight?"

Retired world champion Carl Frampton: "I've absolutely no idea how Ball didn't win that."

It's all heavyweight action from here on.

Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker fight for the WBO inteirm heavyweight title next and then we have Anthony Joshua against Francis Ngannou.

Nick Ball speaking to DAZN after his split decision draw with Rey Vargas: "I had two knockdowns and was putting the pressure on for the whole fight. I was the aggressor and thought I did enough to win it.

"It's a bit frustrating but that's how it is. I can't get angry at it, I needed to stay focus and do my job.

"I knew I was at that level but it was just getting that opportunity so thanks to Frank Warren."