Take Five: What does Oleksandr Usyk's win over Anthony Joshua mean for heavyweight division?
The Ukrainian had to come through some difficult moments but showed his class in the championship rounds to get the nod on two of the three scorecards.
An emotional Usyk dedicated his win to his war-torn homeland, where six months ago he was patrolling the streets of its capital Kyiv with a rifle to defend it against the invading Russian army.
Yet attention immediately turned to what he would do next after beating Joshua for a second time, with the path to becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion for 22 years now clear.
Here are five big questions following Usyk's statement victory.
Will we see an undisputed fight with Tyson Fury?
That's the question on every boxing fans' lips – and the early signs look promising.
Speaking through a translator, Usyk made it clear in his post-fight interview he only wants to face the WBC champion next, saying: "If I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all."
Now 35, Usyk is fast running out of challenges having already won Olympic gold, conquered cruiserweight and captured three of the four belts in the sport's marquee division.
A victory against Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) to become an undisputed champion in two weight classes would see him bow out as an all-time great (he's already a first ballot Hall of Famer).
Despite his near daily 'retirements', Fury is unlikely to forgo an opportunity as legacy-defining – and financially rewarding – as the one on offer against Usyk in which all the heavyweight belts are at stake.
He admitted as much when he posted a foul-mouthed rant on social media moments after the Ukrainian had his hand raised, urging boxing's money men to "get your f…ing chequebook out" and make the bout happen.
The Englishman's promoter Frank Warren said he saw no reason for the "historic fight" not to go ahead, but we can expect plenty of mudslinging between the two camps over the coming weeks and months as the finer details of the contract are ironed out.
Ultimately though money talks in this business and there will be bucketloads of it for a fight of this magnitude. Saudi Arabia has emerged as the early frontrunner to host it and the Kingdom will certainly have no problem stumping up the cash.
A December date is not out of the question but early next year seems a more likely scenario, giving Usyk sufficient time to get himself in shape after that gruelling battle with Joshua.
Who would be the betting favourite?
Surprisingly, Fury is a heavy favourite with the bookmakers to become the division's first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
US betting giant FanDuel Sportsbook gives the 'Gypsy King' a 71.43% chance of winning, offering odds of -250 (a $250 bet would return a win of only $100).
Other betting behemoths also favour the 34-year-old Fury, who does have significant height, weight and reach advantages over his rival.
Fury is riding a five-fight winning streak since a contentious split draw with Deontay Wilder in December 2018, a bout many felt he won.
He has knocked out Wilder twice since then, though he was put down twice in their third meeting before closing the show in the 11th.
One of the toughest fights of Fury's career came in April 2013 against Steve Cunningham, a former cruiserweight champion whose speed and movement gave him fits and saw him hit the canvas in the second round.
While Fury has improved immeasurably over the past nine years, Usyk is about the same size as Cunningham yet light years ahead of him in skill and boxing IQ. Write him off at your peril.
There's a reason why 19 men have tried – and failed – to solve the puzzle that is Oleksandr Usyk.
What's next for Anthony Joshua?
The former heavyweight king must go back to the drawing board after suffering a third defeat in his past five fights.
Having teamed up with respected trainer Robert Garcia, the 32-year-old Joshua gave a much better account of himself than in their one-sided first encounter last September and seemed to have the momentum as he put a beating on Usyk in the ninth.
However, the champion showed his class in the final three rounds, boxing circles around a tiring Joshua to claim a deserved victory on the scorecards.
A heartbroken Joshua didn't cover himself in glory with his bizarre antics afterwards, but he remains one of boxing's most bankable assets and there are plenty of big fights out there for him.
He has vowed to fight on and promoter Eddie Hearn hopes to have him out again before the end of the year.
Expect a relatively soft touch next to get his confidence back, before pursuing the likes of Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz.
Where does Joseph Parker fit into the puzzle?
If the former WBO titlist is to earn another crack at world honours, he needs to find a way past Britain's Joe Joyce when the pair meet in an WBO title eliminator in Manchester on September 25 (NZT).
Parker is a slight underdog heading into that high-stakes clash with the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, who has stopped 13 of his 14 opponents as a professional.
But the New Zealander has looked a completely different fighter since joining forces with Andy Lee and is supremely confident of handing Joyce his first loss.
Even if Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) was to stop the 'Juggernaut' in his tracks next month, he would likely need to face him again in an immediate rematch, further delaying his bid to become a two-time world champion.
If he beats Joyce twice, would he fight for a title?
That may depend on whether Fury topples Usyk and decides to fight on.
Parker and Fury get along famously, the Aucklander training at his Morecambe gym and becoming part of his extended family.
He has spoken at length about how Fury is like a "brother" to him, so it seems unlikely they would ever want to face each other in the ring, particularly with Fury's cousin Lee in Parker's corner.
Fury did claim he was ready to fight Parker at short notice when Whyte was reportedly close to withdrawing from their April bout, though every word that comes out of his mouth ought to be taken with a heavy grain of salt.
