Anthony Joshua has clinically stopped Otto Wallin in five rounds in Saudi Arabia, but a fight with Deontay Wilder is now off the table after the American was defeated by Joseph Parker.
The double-header in the Middle East was supposed to set up a showdown between two of the sport's biggest stars, reportedly in March, but only one of them was able to keep their side of the bargain.
Joshua, under the guidance of new trainer Ben Davison, produced one of his best performances in years to force Wallin to be pulled out on his stool at the end of the fifth.
That victory is made all the more impressive after Wilder was thoroughly outclassed by Parker in the preceding fight, with the favourite barely winning a round and rarely looking like overcoming a disciplined opponent.
With the clock well past 2am in Riyadh, Joshua and Wallin made their way to the ring and there was a proactiveness about both fighters once the opening bell rung.
However, while Wallin looked the occasional threat on the counter, Joshua set the optimum pace from the start, looking to set up the big right hand with smart use of his jab.
Although it took a while for the finish to come, an already-bloodied Wallin looked done once a sharp combination rocked him, and his corner saved him from an inevitable stoppage in the following session.
© Reuters
While Joshua will now likely target a shot at the soon-to-be-vacant IBF heavyweight title against Filip Hrgovic, Wilder will be questioning his future in the sport after barely landing a glove on Parker.
Even when Parker was clocking up the early rounds, the expectation was that Wilder would land the usual one punch that he needs to change the course of a fight, yet he remained perplexed by a perfect gameplan carried out by Parker and his team.
The New Zealander came close to a stoppage in the eighth, a huge shot leaving Wilder in survival mode on the ropes, and it ultimately played its part in discouraging Wilder in the closing stages.
Such was the manner of the performance that 118-111 on one scorecard did not do Parker's performance justice, but the 118-110 and 120-108 on the other two rubber-stamped a famous win.
Further down the card, Daniel Dubois was the highlight, withstanding the challenge of Jarrell Miller - who weighed in 100lbs heavier - before getting a final-round stoppage with eight seconds of the fight remaining.
However, Lyndon Arthur lost to WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol by 120-107 scorelines on all three scorecards, while Jai Opataia - recently stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title - ruthlessly knocked out Ellis Zorro inside a round.
