Live updates: Boxing Joseph Parker v Faiga Opelu in Melbourne

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Fight card:

Joseph Parker v Faiga Opelu - Heavyweight (Expected to start at approximately 12am)

Jayde Mitchell v Max Reeves - Super middleweight

Nikita Tszyu v Benjamin Bommber - Light middleweight

Joel Taylor v Ben Horn - Welterweight

David Nyika v Louis Marsters - Heavyweight

Campbell Somerville v Isaias Sette - Light middleweight

Luke Gersbeck v Jack Moore - Light middleweight

Cameron Mooney v Tom Bellchambers - Heavyweight

8pm - Evening, fight fans. An action-packed evening of boxing ahead of us, so settle in.

We'll bring you detailed coverage of both fights involving New Zealanders, starting shortly with David Nyika.

The first fight of the televised undercard is underway between light middleweights Luke Gersbeck and Jack Moore.

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Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of Kiwi Joseph Parker's showdown with Faiga Opelu at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.

Parker is out to prove he still has what it takes to make another run for a heavyweight world title, after bouncing back from defeat to Joe Joyce with a points victory over Jack Massey in January.

He'll head into the bout as a strong betting favourite against Opelu (15-2), who proved how dangerous a puncher he is with a knockout of highly touted Kiwi prospect Hemi Ahio last year.

Also in action is New Zealand's David Nyika, who'll try to continue the undefeated start to his professional career against Aussie Louis Marsters.

We'll have all of the results from approximately 8pm (NZ time).

The main event is expected to take place at around 12am.

By Alex Powell

Joseph Parker has tipped the scales at his lightest weight since 2018 for Wednesday's bout against Australia's Faiga Opelu in Melbourne.

Parker, 31, weighed in at 108.8kg on Tuesday, nearly 4kg lighter than he was for his last fight - defeating Jack Massey by unanimous decision in January.

The last time Parker was as light as he currently is came against Anthony Joshua in Cardiff when the Kiwi suffered his first career defeat to surrender his WBO heavyweight title. 

While lighter than he has been in recent memory, Parker's 108.8kg sees him nearly 12kg heavier than his opponent, as Opelu tipped the scales at 97.4kg.

"In my 10 years of boxing this has been one of my best preparations ever, even before winning the world title," Parker said.

"So this fight is going to be very different and I feel sorry for Faiga because he's the one in front of me.

"He's going to get the full force."

Parker's record heading into Wednesday's bout with Opelu sits at 31 wins and three defeats, with 21 of those victories coming by knockout.

Meanwhile, Opelu's record reads 15 wins and three defeats, with a further two draws. Eleven of his victories have come by knockout.