We witnessed a brutal battle of attrition on Saturday night between triumphant Daniel Dubois and courageous Fabio Wardley.
It was heavyweight boxing at its most primal and intoxicating, a visceral reminder of why this division remains the crown jewel of the sport.
In a thrilling fight, Dubois, fell twice inside the first three rounds, walked through the fire of public doubt and emerged with the WBO crown, while Wardley, too brave for his own good and who might have been pulled from the cauldron two rounds earlier than the 11th round, gained the kind of admiration held for the greatest of gladiators.
In the end, Dubois stopped the seemingly indomitable Wardley in that penultimate stanza in an epic, modern classic. Uncomfortable towards the end, yes, but forever memorable.