Tyson Fury suffered a catastrophic night against defending world champion Oleksandr Usyk which may very well signal the end for the two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
The Gypsy King was better in this second encounter but the Ukrainian came back strongly to claim victory by unanimous decision, 116-112 on all three judges' cards.
There was no shocking, dramatic round this time, just a scientific boxing match in which Usyk pulled away and showed skills and grit. But it was compelling fare.
There was a more serious build-up than the first fight, with the Briton's legacy at stake in the second encounter. Usyk had defeated Fury by split decision back in May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era. Usyk hurt Fury in round 9 as the Briton was given a standing count, the moment in which the fight changed, to seal that victory on the scorecards, 114-113, 115-112 and 113-114.
Mind games were being played out in a subtle way for this contest, apart from one outburst from Fury when he asserted that he would take Usyk to "the hurt locker" and "damage" his opponent. Yet Fury was unable to exert that authority, as they both dished out punishment.
Even on weigh-in day a row erupted between the camps as the Ukrainian's team claimed that the Briton's bushy beard - grown during his three-month training camp in Malta - "grossly" violated the sanctioning bodies' strictures and had to be trimmed before the showdown. But the beard stayed on for the fight.
This time, Usyk took full advantage of his ascendancy in the later rounds to prove himself an all-time great.
The trilogy between these two elite heavyweight warriors was always going to come down to which man won, but also how they won. With this result, a third encounter is now lost to the sands of time. It is also questionable as to whether Fury will fight again.
Unless the Gypsy King can be tempted back for one last dance against fellow Briton Anthony Joshua. There will always be interest in what is still a behemoth of a commercial sporting event for British fight fans. A bragging-rights fight for the era. But both men, of course, are now on the wrong end of defeats. And in victory, symbolised with his Cossack sword, Usyk is without question the No 1 of the era and an all-time great in the sport.
This was Usyk and Ukraine's night, which will live long in the memory.
But, I think the right winner was (once again) crowned.
It wasn't a great fight (one for the purists as they say) with no standout moments. But there is little doubt that in Usyk boxing has a worthy champion to join the pantheon of the greats.
...The trial AI judge that was in use, and was talked about a fair bit this week, scored it as 118-112 in favour of Usyk.
"It was a good fight. I would have liked to have seen Tyson a little more aggressive and go after Usyk a bit more. He will feel maybe he won the fight. I felt he could have done a little more work."
That was the view of Lennox Lewis. To find out how others reacted read: The controversial decision dissected: Tyson Fury vents anger at judges defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
The Briton didn't hang around for a post-fight interview, but he has let everyone know how he feels about the judges' decision.
Fury's promoter was at a loss as to how his boxer only won four rounds according to the judges. He spoke after the fight, Fury having stormed off in disappointment.
By storming into the ring and asking Usyk for a fight (remember the Ukrainian beat the Briton last year with a ninth-round stoppage).
On whether he thought the result was closer than the judges...
On why he always comes back strong in the second half of fights...
But it was, perhaps, a but closer than the judges scored it.
BUT what is not in doubt is that Usyk is the greatest heavyweight of his era, and, quite possibly, the best pound-for-pound boxer of his era, especially considering Fury's considerable weight advantage.
It has all come down to this and it's Fury on the attack early on. His corner are waving him on, encouraging him to take the fight to the champion. It's close but perhaps the Briton needs the knockdown for the win. He's coming forward looking for that uppercut to the body. He's pushing Usyk back but not landing much. It's been an absorbing contest, without being a classic. Usyk then has Fury back-pedalling and the lands a fine combination. Both these two are not leaving much out there. One big last effort, they look spent as they throw a plethora of punches. I reckon Usyk edged that and quite possibly the fight.
10-9 Usyk
The last fight saw the man who finished the stronger claim the win, Fury is that boxer right now with just two rounds to go. Usyk needs to up the ante here. Fury was badly hurt in the ninth last time out, that hasn't happened tonight so he should still have plenty in the tank by comparison. Uysk is on the front foot early on in this penultimate round, he lands a fine left hand after a Fury right does a bit of damage. The Ukrainian then lands with a left hand on the inside. Another lefty hurts the Briton, this is the round he needed...
He has Fury in the corner as the bell rings. That was Usyk's round.
10-9 Usyk
Three rounds to go...it's so finely poised. Usyk has swelling under his left eye, it shouldn't be a problem though. As I type that Fury is being increasingly aggressive, the Ukrainian is more and more on the back foot now. Again the Briton steps in and half-lands with a right uppercut. That's followed up with a meaty body shot - good stuff from the Gypsy King, this is a fine round from Fury who is sapping the Ukrainian's energy. That was definitely the Briton's round.
10-9 Fury
This fight is going roughly the same way as the first, Usyk coming back after a stronger start from Fury. Fury is looking to land body shots, if the Ukrainian does have a weakness that's it...But Usyk is controlling the centre of the ring more now and he's the more proactive of the pair. Fury then does with well a jab-right hand combination, he has to sustain this. And he's doing exactly that, much better from the Briton who again lands with a right-left combination. Usyk then lands a left and finishes the round stronger. This is going to be very close - it's tough to call right now.
10-9 Fury
Usyk is on the front foot early on once again. He's the master of slowly raising the temperature and that's what he's doing here. He's landing a fair few body shots and they will take it out of Fury the longer this fight goes on. The Ukrainian is looking the stronger here, Fury is looking the more tired of the two. Usyk looks for the left once again, he's on top at the moment, he's outworking Fury. But the Briton steps in and lets his hands go, it's what he needs to do, if only to try regain a slither of momentum. The Ukrainian finishes the round stronger. There's a theme here...
10-9 Usyk
This round and fight are finely balanced, both fighters looking less willing to commit now. Fury lands with two left jabs, Usyk responds with a left of his own which fails to land. But that's not the case with a good left that isn't clean but would have been felt by the Briton. The Ukrainian finishes well too, has momentum now shifted firmly in his favour?
10-9 Usyk
Usyk is the master of killing any momentum so this is a big round for him...he gets Fury's attention with a left early on, he tries the same tactic a few moments later but fails to land the shot. This round is more cat and mouse, but as I type that Usyk lands with a fine left-right combination. Uysk then hurts Fury, again with his left, that was his best shot of the fight so far. Then the Ukrainian lands with a strong combination, again hurting the Briton. Uysk is the king of killing momentum and that's exactly what he's done this round.
10-9 Uysk
Usyk attacks early on, again with his left, his trusty tool. He's being more aggressive this round, it's a fight of fractions at the moment. But Fury lands with a fine left hook finding a gap in the Ukrainian's defence. That looks as though it has softened the champion up. Fury then goes on the attack, a right followed by the left and he's walking Usyk down, this is what he was lacking in the last fight. Fury then tries with a few body shots and after the initial Usyk attack the Briton wins that round.
10-9 Fury
This is roughly how the first fight went, Fury edging the early exchanges before Usyk came back. The Ukrainian is getting some body shots in. Usyk tries twice to land a left, initially without success (the shot deflecting off the gloves of Fury) before landing with the second attempt. The Briton gets his own back with a good right, before pushing Usyk back, great response from the Gypsy King. He's looking solid at the moment.
10-9 Usyk
Usyk comes in off the jab early on, looking to be more proactive. Fury is trying to hold him off with the jab and it's working well. Fury then lands with a left jab before Usyk does well with a combination, he's not landing big shots but doing enough to make the Briton think and these are the sort of shots that can take it out of a boxer later on...Another close round. This is simmering nicely.
10-9 Fury
Early left hand from Usyk lands, but Fury is unflustered. The Briton is again controlling the centre of the ring, and is trying to fire in the right hand off the back of his trusty jab. Fury is trying to chop down with the right hand, it's all patient stuff from both men. Fury then ups the pace and lands with a right hand, decent shot from the Briton, who, I reckon won that round.
10-9 Fury
Jab early on from Usyk is responded with a right hand from Fury. The Briton is trying to stamp his authority early on, trying to command the centre of the ring. Fury is standing his ground, exactly what he needs to do, he jabs at Usyk's left shoulder. But the Ukrainian advances with menace but not landing anything. Fury then nearly lands a right uppercut. That was an absorbing opening and one that Fury will be the happier with.
10-10 even
Michael Buffer has uttered his trademark phrase in his inimitable style (not Ant and Dec's...) and we're moments away from what promises to be another brilliant bout.
First the hosts' national song, then God Save The King, with Šče ne vmerla Ukraina (Ukraine has not yet perished, I think is the translation...) rounding off the patriotic trio of tunes.
He's coming out to some Ukrainian tune (my Eastern European pop knowledge isn't great, I'll admit, so don't know what it is...). He's dressed in a warrior-like outfit (think it's that of a Cossack) and looks deadly serious, no shock there.
Yep, he's dressed in a quasi-Santa costume (without the hat or white beard) and he comes out, initially at least, to Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas, not exactly in theme with his demeanour.
Of course the American is announcing the entrance of the two boxers.
A big fight without him would be like Christmas without Santa or Slade...
Warning: It may give you nightmares...
...the drummer was drumming away to 'Eye Of The Tiger' so at least the music was appropriate. I remember one fight where the pre-bout 'entertainment' was some Gatecrasher-esque trance DJ set.
But, as is the annoying custom in big sporting events now, there is some 'entertainment' beforehand (in this case a drummer banging away), as though the actual sport cannot speak for itself...
Anyway, tiny rant over.
READ: Tyson Fury aggression v Oleksandr Usyk's late show - where the fight will be won and lost
A huge over-the-top left hook from the Briton was all it took for him to put this fight to bed. Demsey McKean is an experienced boxer but he had no answer to Itauma's power there. The bout lasted all of one minutes 57 seconds in what amounts to a hugely impressive statement of intent.
Is about to get under way, Moses Itauma vs Demsey McKean.
Itauma, the Briton, is highly rated, and it's not hard to see why with a record that reads: 10-0, with eight knockouts.
He's up against the vastly experienced Australian McKean tonight, in a bout that will tell us more about Ituama's prospects of becoming a global force.
It's a pretty obvious question to ask, I'll admit, but it's the only one on people's lips.
Heading into May's fight both boxers had never tasted defeat before. That's no longer the case with Fury, whose prickly nature this week can, perhaps, be explained by the fact this is the first time he'll come into a bout on the back of a loss.
Here's what Gareth A Davies has to say on where tonight's battle will be won and lost.
READ: Tyson Fury aggression v Oleksandr Usyk's late show - where the fight will be won and lost
...for Ukrainian fighters tonight. That's thanks to Serhii Bohachuk's victory over Ishmael Davis. The Ukrainian was on top from the start of the fight against the Briton, who was pulled out by his corner after the sixth round.
Will it be four for four come the end of the night?
Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis sit next to each other ringside. It's not hard to work out why so many of the sport's greats are in town to watch tonight's bout, to borrow a slightly annoying and overused phrase 'game knows game'.
Not least because Jason Statham is in the crowd. The Fast and Furious actor is getting in a bit of sun and sporting action before Christmas.
Serhii Bohachuk vs Ishmael Davis.
Bohachuk is the third Ukrainian to fight tonight, it's two wins from two Usyk's country, the World Heavyweight Champion will doubtless be hoping it's four from four by the end of the night.
It was a split decision and Dave Allen looks aggrieved not to have been awarded the fight. The crowd agrees, booing the announcement to let their views be clearly heard.
What a fight between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen. Allen has turned the tide in this fight, old-manned Fisher and has rocked the younger man several times. Gutsy and brutal from both Britons. Allen is letting his experience do the talking here...What a fight! Crowd loving it...one round to go...
And it sees two Britons face each other in the ring. The 'Doncaster De La Hoya' Dave Allen takes on the 'Romford Bull' Johnny Fisher.
While typing that sentence round one ended, it was a good opening from Fisher.
And looking cool and calm as ever.
...not all the talk ahead of the fight is purely about his boxing skills.
Read all of Oliver Brown's piece - Tyson Fury thinks he is a noble warrior - I think he is a petty thug - here
Win tonight and the Ukrainian will be, beyond any doubt, the best of his generation and enter the pantheon of all-time greats.
Here's Gareth A Davies on the ingredients that make Usyk so good in the ring.
READ: The five scariest weapons in Oleksandr Usyk's arsenal
Those two directing greats of horror films would be hard pressed to outdo this scary (in a creepy sort of way...) trailer for tonight's fight.
Take a look (it's for you to decide whether to watch behind a sofa...).
...with a unanimous decision.
The Englishman deserved the win over his Welsh opponent, and moves to 11-1 record after losing his first pro fight.
The two fighters are closely matched, May's bout illustrated that perfectly.
Here's who those in the know think will be smiling in Saudi Arabia later tonight.
As for me, I'm going Usyk in round nine...
READ: Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk predictions: What boxing experts are saying about the fight
It's a pretty obvious question to ask, I'll admit, but it's the only one on people's lips.
Heading into May's fight both boxers had never tasted defeat before. That's no longer the case with Fury, whose prickly nature this week can, perhaps, be explained by the fact this is the first time he'll come into a bout on the back of a loss.
Here's what Gareth A Davies has to say on where tonight's battle will be won and lost.
READ: Tyson Fury aggression v Oleksandr Usyk's late show - where the fight will be won and lost
More than most sports, boxing relies on rivalries - think Ali vs Frazier, Tyson vs Holyfield, and Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta - and already, after just one bout, Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk has the hallmarks of another great battle.
Not only are the pair the best heavyweights of their generation but their contrasting styles makes it a competition to satisfy even the most hard-to-please spectator, over and above the usual hype.
It is just seven months since Usyk won the first fight via split decision after 12 enthralling rounds. Fury seemed to have the upper hand in the early exchanges in Riyadh, but the second half of the bout belonged to the Ukrainian, scoring a knockdown in the ninth round that ultimately proved crucial.
The fight proved that Usyk can cope with the size difference - something he's even more up against tonight - and the Briton illustrated he has the boxing skills to take on his more agile opponent.
Fury weighed in at a career-high 20st 1lb for tonight's eagerly anticipated bout. He was fully clothed and wearing a heavy leather jacket when he stepped on to the scales while Usyk, the WBA, WBC and WBO champion also kept his clothes on and weighed 16st 2lb, the heaviest he has recorded.
After the rivals had engaged in a stare down for 11 minutes 20 seconds at Thursday's head-to-head press conference, the final face off lasted only a few seconds before Fury turned away.
Expect the fight to last considerably longer this evening, Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, summed it up best when, on Friday, he said: "You can analyse it anyway you like but tomorrow night you're going to find out who is the best.
"You know both of them will come to fight. We are going to see something extra, extra special."
Stay here for all the pre-bout build-up, undercard and action with the ring walks expected at around 10.30 our time.