The Road to the Undisputed ended for the Gypsy King in a breakneck clash with Olexander Usyk's extraordinary personification of Ukraine's resistance on the battlefield.
A Fight For Any Century ended in an equal defeat for Tyson Fury because it is possible for three judges to score.
At the end of the most bewildering battle of two halves it was 114-113 on two cards and 115-112 on the other. None of these heroes deserved to lose, but it was to Fury's despair that two of them favored the man who came back from the point of no return. There will be another return to the ring.
A resit is stated in the contract. It is inevitable in the public's demand. Never before has a second edition been so necessary. It will excite us all again in October.
At the height of this first fight, which will reverberate through the halls of fame for as long as two men are willing to raise their fists at each other in boxing, it ultimately not only delivered an evening of violent splendor, but delivered the new undisputed world champion heavyweight that boxing had waited 25 years for.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by the narrowest of margins to become the undisputed heavyweight champion
Fury was left devastated at the final bell after losing his unbeaten record in Riyadh
The ninth round proved decisive as Usyk punched Fury across the ring, forcing the referee to conduct a count after the ropes held Fury up.
Usyk had to dig very deep after a difficult start to the fight, but came on strong in the second half of the fight
Lennox Lewis's long reign is over, but he is not an Englishman hungry for the succession that has claimed his throne. He is a man who refused to lose for his country.
Usyk rose to glory waving that yellow and blue standard, courtesy of the ninth round. His comeback from Fury's total dominance in the first six rounds included Fury rocking so close to a knockout that he was spared by the American referee, who gave him a standing count because the ropes were holding him up. The count was eight, the score for the ninth, 8 to 10 against Fury.
Fury outwitted the technical maestro and taunted him for six rounds. Usyk simply refused to yield in will or body. As if switching time, he pounded Fury away from them.
By the end of the eleventh he was even. Rage staggered from a mist to make a fight of the last. If the judges had agreed with my score, it would have been a draw. No one would have liked that, but it would have seemed good. But Fury's unbeaten record is gone. Not Usyks.
How the battle day went
The day of battle dawned with shame. Usyk's official weight was adjusted down by ten pounds.
The forecasters and oddsmakers panicked. So he wouldn't be slowed down?
But would it be any easier for Fury to push around?
Was it all mind games? A conspiracy even?
To behave. In all likelihood it was a mistake. Legendary ring announcer Michael “Rumble” Buffer is now 79. Could he have heard 223 pounds as well as 233? Every chance.
Usyk's weight was read incorrectly on Friday evening, which only became clear on Saturday morning
It was a rare mistake from Michael Buffer, leaving fans wondering how Usyk would actually approach the fight
If Tyson was shocked by it, he's not the Fury we know. And some of us love it. Either way, as he told us at the weigh-in, he was going to go after Usyk's heart. Not his muscles.
Not that the royal Saudi rulers would have been too happy about that. Riyadh, as the new capital of heavyweight boxing, is still learning the ropes.
The good people here are still being introduced to the joys of boxing.
This fight would sell out Wembley Stadium twice. Tickets for the Kingdom Arena cost $20. To even come close to filling it must have taken a few invitations, it would have been insulting to decline.
But for a few thousand of Fury's fellow travelers, the atmosphere may have been one of mere curiosity.
Then again, given Saudi wealth, it's entirely possible that none of us would have watched this fight. Ballpark purses of £100m for Fury and £35m for Usyk were too good to turn down.
Unperturbed, the undefeated pair got ready. The first sighting of Usyk on the giant screen showed him leaving the air-conditioned arena to warm up in the evening heat of a courtyard.
He came in to join the chilled celebrities. Among them were heavyweights Lewis, Holyfield, Larry Holmes, David Haye And Anthony Joshua.
Anthony Joshua (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) watched from ringside
Lennox Lewis (left) and Evander Holyfield (right) were also present
Usyk made his way to the ring wearing the uniform of a historic military commander
Fury danced his way to the ring and soaked up the adoration of the crowd
Oh and by the way, Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns less in a year by playing football here than Fury, is counting on this one evening of work.
A stunning sound, light and fire show and a dramatic rock performance energized the venue.
Uasyk marched sternly and strongly in the uniform of a historic military commander. Fury came dressed, ready for work, but spent his energy on an exhibition of hyper shadowboxing and rearing.
Both religious men crossed themselves several times. Let the battle begin.
SCORECARD BY JEFF POWELL
Round 1 – Fury took control of the early exchanges with his telescoping left jab. He even showedboated in the corner after dodging a Usyk advance and danced flawlessly after being cut.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Round 2 – Usyk opened the second with a sharp one-two. Fury went back to the jab and got the second despite being tagged just before the bell.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Round 3 – Fury returned to the days of his prime. Prick sharply. Motion fluid. Too big to catch with anything painful.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Round 4 – Fury's command was such that he outwitted the master technician.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Fury seemed to be in control early and even did some showboating in the corner
Round 5 – Fury checked Usyk's perceived weakness in the body and was warned for a low blow when Usyk complained. But the Ukrainian's biggest problem was a cut on the right eye, possibly caused by a clash of the heads in the previous round.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Round 6 – The crowd was willing for Usyk to join the fight, but he was overpowered. This was a phenomenal performance by the Gypsy King. He singled out his man at will and harassed him into the bargain.
Rage 10-9 Usyk
Round 7 – Halfway and Usyk has yet to win a round. He now needed one not to recover further on points and stole it with a powerful finish after catching Fury acting out.
Anger 9-10 Usyk
Round 8 – Could Usyk go at this again? A huge effort from him is rewarded by landing several left hooks, leaving Fury holding and leaning 9-10 for the first time
Anger 9-10 Usyk
Round 9 – Amazing effort from Usyk. Fury staggers out of that huge left, slumps against the ropes and is saved by a standing eight count and then the bell.
Anger 8-10 Usyk
Usyk turned the fight in his favor with a huge left hand that rocked Fury badly
Round 10 – Fury boxing on fumes. Usyk is now doing the taunting.
Anger 9-10 Usyk
Round 11 – What a battle of two halves. Fury's power left its mark. It hangs again. They are incredibly even on my card now going into the last one.
Anger 9-10 Usyk
Round 12 – Fury makes his final stand. His rights are equal to Usyk's left. The last one is the same. If the judges agree… it's a draw.
Anger 10-10 Usyk
Final verdict: Furie 114-114 Usyk