Both fighters wanted their slice of history.
Both fought bravely and showed a huge amount of courage, giving boxing fans a night to remember, but there could, of course, be only one winner.
In the end, Filip Hrgovic's experience and iron-clad chin proved the difference against Moses Itauma as he became Croatia's first-ever heavyweight champion.
No one in the arena or watching at home could take their eyes off it. How did Hrgovic not go down? How much longer could Itauma go on? The questions were constant. The answers were brutal.
It was a true example of two fighters who would, no matter what, go out on their shield. Itauma started like he has all his previous fights: Fast. Launching his big left hand and sending early warning shots.
Hrgovic (21-1, 16 KOs), who conceded he thought the fight would be easier and that he had never been in the ring with someone like Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs), did indeed look surprised. He touched the canvas in Round 2 but wasn't hurt.
"I didn't feel the power, I felt quickness. I didn't see that punch coming," Hrgovic said post-fight.
The Croatian said the gameplan quickly became crystal clear. He knew Itauma, the 21-year-old, red-hot favourite who was looking to become the youngest heavyweight since Mike Tyson, would not last. He could not last. It was a risky game. Itauma was well ahead on the cards, but Hrgovic stuck to what his gut told him.
"From the first round, I saw he's gassing out," Hrgovic said. "I saw he start that fast. I knew he's going to gas out at some point. And I knew when my chance come, I need to push. And that's what I did."
Those punches; high in volume and lethal in power, sapping Itauma's energy, couldn't keep coming for 12 rounds. By the end of Round 4, they both started to tire, but Hrgovic's resilience did not fade. He thanked his "Croatian power" after the fight for his ability to withstand everything Itauma threw at him.
If you want a snapshot of the fight, take the end of Round 5: Itauma lands a jolting uppercut and skilfully moves away after the shot hits its target (right under Hrgovic's chin). Hrgovic, in response, does not flinch and walks off, almost shrugging his shoulders while those in attendance recovered from watching it.
Itauma seemed to really go for it in Round 8, targeting the head and firing in body shots which sounded like a medicine ball being thrust against a wall, but still Hrgovic would not budge. The Croatian's prediction then came true. Itauma's legs turned to jelly. He still, remarkably, landed some shots but the fight was only heading one way.
Hrgovic, the experienced campaigner, jumped on his junior rival. Itauma stumbled back to the ropes and was walked down by a hungry Hrgovic, who believes he has been pushed around and overlooked in this sport constantly. He was not to be denied this time.
Itauma's mind still said yes as he tried to come forward, but his body had had enough. Ben Davison threw the towel in as Itauma collapsed. He had to be propped up by his team and was taken away on a stretcher.
"He was fighting like an amateur. I knew I need to endure and he was going to get tired and I'll get him later rounds," Hrgovic said.
"He's amazing fighter. He's one of a kind. He's the best I've been in ring with, but he needs more experience. He gassed out."
Critics insisted his chin had not been tested and that we don't know how Itauma will go in the later rounds. Yes, he lost, but no one can ever question Itauma's desire after that.
Was he too obsessed with getting the knockout? Maybe. Promoter Frank Warren said someone told him on fight night that Itauma wouldn't feel like he'd won the world title properly unless he did get the stoppage.
"I didn't like hearing that," Warren told media afterwards.
Regardless, the fight will be a learning curve for Itauma. He won't need anyone to tell him where it went wrong and he will come again.
For now, it's Hrgovic who takes his place in boxing's history book.