Joshua vs Fury: Where does AJ’s ‘chaotic’ win in Saudi Arabia leave heavyweight blockbuster?

After such a chaotic night, it’s easy to focus only on the flaws and forget the bigger picture. Joshua was coming off one of the darkest periods of his life and was carrying a huge emotional burden into the ring.

After raising his hand, he struggled to complete his interview. His voice cracked as he talked about his two friends and the impact their loss had on him.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said, “Boxing had saved him once and he needed to box to get through that. This camp allowed him to focus his mind when he was in so much pain and grief.”

“You don’t know what he’s going through in that camp because he doesn’t talk about it.”

Whatever happens next, his place in British boxing history is already secure. He is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time heavyweight champion and one of the biggest sports stars this country has produced.

He took boxing to places few British fighters could reach. It filled stadiums, headlined global events and became a household name far beyond sports.

But in the build-up to his comeback, Joshua and his stablemate Oleksandr Usyk have spoken of his ambition to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

After Saturday night, the reality in Saudi Arabia is that even reclaiming the world title will be a difficult task.

Joshua was always talking about legacy, and there was something fitting about walking away after overcoming one of the toughest periods of his life and pulling off a dramatic comeback victory.

The danger of aging warriors is to chase another night. Boxing history is full of champions who lasted too long in a fight.

But still, Fury-Joshua doesn’t have another fight. This the fight. One that has loomed over their careers for the best part of a decade.