Crawford vs Porter LIVE result: Fight highlights and latest reaction

Next up, it’s the last fight before our main event. It’s a battle between two unbeaten middleweight contenders, Esquiva Falcao and Patrice Volny. Falcao (28-0) most recently dispatched of Artur Akavov, who British fans might remember from a close bought with Billy Joe Saunders, in conclusive fashion. Meanwhile, it is the first time Volny (16-0) is fighting outside of Canada.

The referee calls the fight off mercifully in the eighth round after N’dam eats another wave of punches on the ropes.

N’dam protests but there can really be few arguments. He was taking far too much punishment in there and wasn’t threatening to land anything of note. “No, no. I’m ready to die,” N’dam says in the corner, evidencing why referees need to know when to step in and save a fighter from their own bravery.

Alimkhanuly backs N’dam up onto the ropes and unleashes a barrage of heavy punches, snapping his opponent’s head back. The referee takes a good look but N’dam shakes his head and throws to show he wants to continue. His bravery is doing him no good, though, and he walks onto two huge uppercuts. Somehow he stays on his feet, but it’s getting a bit gruesome now.

N’dam grits his teeth and shows great resilience to keep the fight going. His legs still seemed unsteady when he came back out from the corner and he’s immediately on the receiving end of a few vicious uppercuts from Alimkhanuly. N’dam is still throwing, though, but his punches are having little effect. He’s taking a lot of punishment in there.

It’s one-way traffic in the third as Alimkhanuly rocks N’dam with a left hand and then follows it up with an uppercut. N’dam hits the canvas is shaken. He’s saved by the bell. Alimkhanuly is landing at will and it’s a matter of time until the finish.

Alimkhanuly has a very distinguished amateur record, winning the 2013 world championship. He’s immediately on the front foot and is clearly sharper and more technically sound than the 37-year-old N’dam, who has enjoyed a fine professional career but is undoubtedly past his peak now.

Next up, 2016 Olympian Zhanibek Alimkhanuly faces the biggest test of his professional career so far. He takes on veteran former middleweight world champion Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam.

Errol Spence, who perhaps has the strongest claim to being the best welterweight in boxing, was forced to withdraw from his fight against Manny Pacquiao earlier this year due to an eye injury. ‘The Truth’ made his comeback last December against Danny Garcia but has not been able to fight since, however, there was some positive news this week as Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the WBC, confirmed Spence is back in training.

“I have been in communication with Errol,” Sulaiman said. “He is a fantastic human being, a miracle man who survived an accident. Now he is having a retina problem and had to pull out of fighting Manny Pacquiao. It has been a difficult time for him but he is very strong mentally and physically. He has begun training.”