A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch. Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.

He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour. But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine? Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?

Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied. So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down? He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.

The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals. Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this. The rematch will be superb. Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.

There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest. But Usyk – who became the first ever four-belt heavyweight undisputed champ – revealed Fury was not his hardest-hitting rival. He said: “I would say toughest fight, yes, but I think biggest punch, no.