Derek Chisora cemented his legend as a true man of War to the rapturous delight of his followers in his beloved O2 Arena.
They tuned out in their thousands to kiss him goodbye and he landed countless massive smackers on Joe Joyce as he delivered unto them what was supposed to be a farewell performance for the ages but which grew into an epic victory he now wants to reprise.
Whether that is wise for him - or for Joyce for the matter - after they both took inhuman punishment is open to question.
But there can be no denying the enormity of the thriller they fought through ten blood curdling rounds in the banks of the Thames.
Rarely if ever have we witnessed two men put each through such terrifying punishment. Either of them would have knocked out any other heavyweight we can think of.
Derek Chisora (left) triumphed over Joe Joyce via unanimous decision on Saturday evening
Chisora scored a knockdown on his opponent during the ninth round of the competition
Joyce put up an admirable fight but came up just short in the thrilling contest at the O2 Arena
Heavyweight royalty was in attendance outside the ring also. Oleksandr Usyk, who humbled Anthony Joshua twice and then Tyson Fury in the process of establishing himself as undisputed world champion, popped across from Paris where he is advising Ukraine's Olympic boxers.
Before taking his throne at ringside Usyk visited Chisora's dressing room to thank him for helping his ascent from undisputed world cruiserweight champion to ruler over the land of the giants.
Since being given a good fight during his heavyweight induction Usyk has described Chisora as being 'the hardest puncher I've ever met.'
Of Fury, who he faces in a rematch for three of the alpha-belts in Ryadh in Christmas week, the Ukraine war mascot says: 'he has the highest IQ.'
The latter quality was never going to be decisive. In the main event he had come to see. Joyce and Chisora were here to batter each other towards in the direction of retirement.
To the accompaniment of ear-splitting cheering for Chisora and respectful applause for Joyce.
Chisora landed the first bombs, a salvo of body shots followed by some clubbing lefts to the head.
It was back-and-worth between the two heavyweight stars as the battled for victory
Joyce's capacity for taking huge punches and then going on the attack was admirable
Joyce's capacity for taking huge punches was proved yet again by some 15 crunching left hooks to the jaw in round two followed by a few rights into the bargain.
Joyce weathered the thunderous storm and came back to do some pounding of his own, even though his inability to dodge punches kept him reeling.
Chisora had nominated the fifth round for landing a KO and he came close. So much punishment did Joyce take that in his desperation he coldclocked his opponent a good two seconds after the bell for the end of the fifth round.
A harsh warning was not punishment enough and Chisora was clearly still feeling the effects as Joyce unloaded at the start of the sixth.
When it became Chisora's turn to absorb punishment he proved just as heroic and granite chinned.
Then through the eye of a hurricane he found the killer straight right to drop the Juggernaut in his tracks.
Even when reeling through the tenth and last round he still kept clobbering Joyce.