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Ken Buchanan passed away earlier in the day, sleeping peacefully at 77, a year after he was diagnosed with dementia.

The ringside bell at the 02 chimed ten times for the Edinburgh legend who claimed the undisputed world lightweight title with epic victories over outstanding champions on the other side of the Atlantic.

The applause which rang around the arena echoed back to an era when it wasn’t necessary to win every fight to be recognised as great. Buchanan the master craftsman sustained eight defeats in his distinguished career.

Joshua was coming to the ring after just three losses – albeit all in his last five fights - having bulked up to his heaviest ever. So clearly hoping to barnstorm the American in his sights.

There is more than one to skin the Hall of Fame cat. Having lost his way in trying to polish skills with which he hoped, in vain, to outbox Olexsandr Usyk over the two defeats which left him bereft of his world titles, AJ promised to be back to his power punching basics. Back also in the venue which he used to call his Lion’s Den when blasting his way to his first world title in only his 16th fight.

In this, his 28th, he found himself under question as to whether he would feel a need to quit if he lost.

Whether or not some seats were comped, the 02 was filled enough to generate a roaring atmosphere.. Presumably by his hard-core London fan base, perhaps supplemented by curiosity shoppers wondering if this really would be the last chance to see in action the neighbour who won Olympic gold for Britain on the opposite bank of the Thames a decade or so ago.

Franklin preceded him into the ring and looked neither anxious nor irritated by the wait for Joshua to arrive and the rigamarole of ring announcements to be completed.

AJ was equally composed. Even though he was coming to this watershed in his life.