Anthony Joshua suffered a points defeat at the hands of Ukrainian challenger Oleksandr Usyk, losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles.
The Watford boxer pulled out the fireworks for an extended ringwalk, but wasn't able to produce any in the ring, as his challenger outclassed him to win comfortably.
While AJ put a brave face on, similing at his opponent throughout the fight, he knew he was in a tough battle and in truth never came close to winning.
Usyk was giving up three inches in height and another one in reach, as well as nearly 20lbs in weight, but the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion’s technical acumen came to the fore in an electric atmosphere.
Joshua finished the bout slumped against the ropes as his smaller foe looked for a dramatic finish and, while it was not forthcoming, Usyk claimed the WBA, IBF and WBO titles after he was given the nod by all three judges.
Scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 were just reward after a near-masterclass from the unbeaten Usyk, who became only the third fighter after Evander Holyfield and David Haye to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Joshua, who was obligated to face WBO mandatory challenger Usyk after a bout against Fury fell through earlier this year, seemed accepting of the result when the scores came as he suffered just the second defeat of his career.
Carl Froch, the former super-middleweight world champion, felt Usyk was worth his victory.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: “All the boxing purists who know the game, we always knew Oleksandr Usyk could out-perform AJ, out-box him and beat him on points.
“I don’t think any of us knew he could do it in such a manner. Towards the end, he took control, then started to beat him up when he didn’t need to.
“That was a boxing match and a proper fight, which in the end Oleksandr Usyk was in control of. He deserves every credit.
“Anthony Joshua did his part, he tried to box with him and work the body at time, but it wasn’t enough, he simply wasn’t good enough.”
Boxing expert Steve Bunce felt the warnings signs were there early on for Joshua.
“It was the very first round, seven seconds in, it was a big left hand,” Bunce said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“From that point on, there seemed to be doubt – how can there be doubt in the first round?”
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