Scott Quigg relinquished his WBA belt last night after a 12-round slog against Carl Frampton, and for eight of those rounds, Quigg was fighting with a broken jaw.
The build-up to this bout was palpably enthralling. They shared a long existing rivalry and the tension spilled over during the final press conference and the weigh-in.
It even veered into juvenile territory with both fighters disputing over who should get the biggest dressing room. Frampton threatened to withdraw from the fight if he wasn't granted the preference.
That bizarre spat was eventually resolved and the fight finally took place last night in Manchester.
The exchanges lacked pace in the opening rounds, and by the sixth and seventh rounds, Frampton appeared to have taken the initiative. But Quigg responded defiantly in the eight round which culminated in him landing a sweet strike on Frampton in the ninth round that had the Northern Irish man temporarily rattled.
But the judges gave the nod to the latter in the end via split decision and judging by the reports coming through this morning, Quigg was fighting on raw adrenaline and desire last night.
Apparently, Quigg suffered a broken jaw in the fourth round, meaning he lasted the majority of the fight with an agonising injury which he underwent surgery for this morning.
People swiftly took to Twitter to applaud his resolve.
Thoughts with @scottquigg currently undergoing surgery on broken jaw..you will be back stronger! pic.twitter.com/93dMBTKHnO
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 28, 2016
Took some courage to go 8 rounds with a broken jaw @scottquigg
— Danny Winstanley (@Danny97_MUFC) February 28, 2016
Well done to @scottquigg fighting 8 rounds with a broken jaw. Warrior!! Maybe next time v @RealCFrampton he'll throw a punch before the 5th
— Mark Allen (@pistol147) February 28, 2016
Scott Quigg fought 8rds with a broken jaw last night.Even us Frampton fans have to acknowledge that courage. Salute you sir! #FramptonQuigg
— Glenn Speers (@GlennSpeers) February 28, 2016
Again, proud of @scottquigg fighting 8 rounds against another world class fighter with a broken jaw #warrior
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) February 28, 2016
@scottquigg fought from round 4 with a broken jaw. Some courage that. 👋🻠#warrior
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) February 28, 2016
Scott Quigg boxed 8 rounds last night with a broken jaw 😳 what an animal
— Jack (@jack_taylor_13) February 28, 2016
Fair play to Scott Quigg, 8 rounds with a broken jaw 😳 tough little guy all give him that
— Craig Smith (@csljm84) February 28, 2016
Big @RealCFrampton fan so happy he won the fight but have huge respect for @scottquigg boxing 8 rounds with a broken jaw. Hard as nails. 👊
— Dan (@DanielDaws1) February 28, 2016
If Scott Quigg did fight for eight rounds with a broken jaw, his corner and medical team need to take a long, hard look at themselves.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) February 28, 2016
Reports Scott Quigg has broken jaw. Frampton's 4th round upper cut did the damage... but he fought on another 8 rounds 👠#FramptonQuigg
— Paulo Ross (@paulorossradio) February 28, 2016
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