Tyson Fury stopped Derek Chisora in the 10th round to retain his heavyweight world title and set up an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury had already beaten Chisora in 2011 and again three yeas later, but handed the Londoner a surprise third fight - and a multi-million-pound pay day - when a clash with first Usyk and then Anthony Joshua failed to materialise. But Chisora's second challenge for a world title ended in a whimper as he struggled to lay a glove on the champion before the referee stepped in to put the Londoner out of his misery.
"He’s an absolute warrior," Fury said of Chisora afterwards. "A British warrior. We’ve had three epic fights and he’s a tough man. He stood up to every shot and was calling me a b***h in there."
Fury won his belt from Deontay Wilder in the second of three absorbing clashes between the heavyweights, and defended it in concussive fashion in last year's trilogy bout. Fury then stopped domestic rival Dillian Whyte on his Wembley homecoming eight months ago before announcing his retirement from the sport.
But unable to adapt to life outside the ring, Fury, as expected, performed a U-turn and announced his return. Unable to secure either an undisputed fight with fellow world champion Usyk, or a long-awaited clash with Joshua, the 34-year-old made good on a promise to complete his trilogy with Chisora.
His rival had won just one of his last four fights - a narrow points victory over Kubrat Pulev - and his chances of an upset were reflected in his pre-fight odds of 14/1. And Chisora milked every second of his long ring walk, as if recognising this was his final entrance to the biggest of stages. Fury, meanwhile, walked out to a medley of songs including football anthem Three Lions in a nod to England's World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Both men had agreed earlier in the week to meet in the middle of the ring and trade leather from the opening bell. And Chisora was true to his word as he immediately targeted Fury's body, forcing the champion to hold, using every inch of his giant frame. Fury responded well, landing flush midway through the round while a one-two also found the target as Fury established a rhythm. And he wobbled Chisora briefly with a left hand in the opening exchanges of the second round.
Fury switched downstairs to the body as Chisora began to wilt. But he stood his ground against the ropes and beckoned Fury on and managed to hear the bell. A right hand shook Chisora in the third and already the end seemed nigh. Chisora was looking every bit his 41 years as he lunged forward with little effect. The rivals ended up in a heap on the canvas as the challenge resorted to unorthodox tactics.
Chisora did land a right hand at the start of the fourth stanza but Fury shrugged it off. And despite his obvious dominance - and the bitter winter temperature - the champion seemed in no hurry to close the show. Chisora showed plenty of intent at the start of the fifth session but was soon sent staggering back into the ropes. Another right hand had the same effect later in the round but still Chisora plodded on.
Fury had switched to southpaw by the sixth round but still showed little urgency as he picked apart his plucky but limited challenger. Chisora attempted to kickstart his assault on Fury's body in the seventh session but it again soon fizzled out. Fury finally warmed the hands of the freezing fans in the eighth round as he rammed home his right hand. Chisora had long been a punch bag in this fight but Fury was still stopping short of putting his old rival out of his misery.
Referee Victor Loughlin told Chisora's corner before the start of the 10th round that he was close to stopping the fight. The Londoner rose very slowly from stool but fought on as the punishment continued. But Loughlin waved the fight off with seconds of the session remaining.
On the undercard, Daniel Dubois retained his 'regular' WBA heavyweight world title but only after being given a tremendous shock by Kevin Lerena. The South African dumped Dubois on the canvas in the opening round before the Brit twice took a knee as he struggled with a leg injury. But he showed tremendous will to recover and drop Lerena in the third round before the referee waved the bout off following another barrage of punches against the ropes.
