The stage was all set for Junior Witter.
Due to unforeseen circumstances with the co-main event, his WBC light-welterweight title fight with Timothy Bradley had undisputed top billing on a prime-time ITV slot.
If ever there was an opportunity for 'The Hitter' to make a statement, to send out a message to the rest of the world that he was the premier 10-stone talent in world boxing and shame Ricky Hatton into facing him sooner rather than later, then this was it.
Witter, who has lived in Hatton's shadow for years despite his sultry skills and holding one of the most prestigious belts out there, would surely now emerge and show the British public just how good he was against an unbeaten but as yet untested American.
Wouldn't he?
Unfortunately not.
When the heat was on Witter wilted like a hothouse flower, losing his world belt and with it any lingering hope of a mega-money showdown with 'The Hitman'.
The Bradford man blew his big chance with a negative display that saw him lose a split, 115-113, 114-113, 112-115 verdict on the cards.
He never really got going against Bradley and seemed to be waiting for the opportunity to unload with the same vicious left hook that scrambled the senses of 'Vicious' Vivian Harris in his last title defence.
Bradley, fighting behind a tight defence and pouring forward all the time, never allowed him that opportunity and forced the fight the whole time (dropping Witter with a looping right himself in the sixth).
It was a defeat that would unquestionably damage the career of a fighter of 27 or 28 but at 34, one wonders where Witter will go from here?
He defiantly vowed to continue after the fight but will he be able to gee himself up for European title fights against men he has previously vanquished such as Hornchurch's Colin Lynes?
I doubt it. What I do know is that his insipid display and subsequent defeat means he drops one place in our latest 'pound-for-pound' rankings.
Moving above him is Nottingham's Carl Froch, who should have boxed Denis Inkin in a WBC super-middleweight title eliminator but instead went through the motions against 'fourth reserve' Albert Rybacki.
Rybacki was unbeaten, but in terms of skill Froch was on another level entirely and boxed within himself before closing the show brilliantly in the fourth with a few spitefully-delivered uppercuts.
Froch will now box for the WBC belt, most probably against Mikkel Kessler in what should be a real humdinger of a fight.
'The Cobra' is definitely in his fighting prime now at 30 and desperate for the big fights to establish himself.
Having spoken with him I know he is more motivated by winning belts and respect than merely picking up a pay cheque and while he seems arrogant to some I see it that he has total confidence in his own ability.
Joe Calzaghe has said that he will accommodate him if the money is right and if he can beat Kessler (it's still a fairly big 'if' as I rate the Dane and he is certainly no 'Tomato Can', especially on home soil) then I am convinced that fight can happen.
For now though Carl will have to be satisfied for a job well done against Rybacki and a place at four in our latest ratings.
Also on the Nottingham card lightweight prospect John Murray was involved in a real battle with late sub Youssef Al Hamidi.
Murray is a stellar prospect and a potential future Amir Khan opponent but he was given a rough ride against Al Hamidi, who scored a shock win against Anthony Crolla earlier this year and also ran Michael Hunter close a while back.
It wasn't a vintage Murray display but he got the job done against a game, tricky, spoiling sort of opponent and as a result the 23-year-old Mancunian gets an 'honourable mention' in our latest list.
Alex Arthur's chances of moving into the upper echelons of the 'pound-for-pound' tree received a hammer blow when his proposed WBO super-featherweight clash against the brilliant Joan Guzman was scrapped due to apparent visa issues.
Few were giving the 'Amazing' one a chance against Dominican banger Guzman but even if he lost and covered himself in glory up in Scotland he would have definitely moved up a notch or two on our latest list.
Sadly the bill was cancelled and despite being told that it will be rescheduled for later this year, having heard nothing from the promoters on the issue since I won't be holding my breath.
Kevin Mitchell is another fighter who is moving the right way up our 'P4P' rankings and with news that his US debut on the Kelly Pavlik-Gary Lockett undercard will now be a 12-rounder for his WBO Intercontinental title I'm sure it won't be long before the 'Dagenham Destroyer' vacates his spot at number 10.
Sportinglife.com pound-for-pound British top 10:
1 - Joe Calzaghe
2 - Ricky Hatton
3 - David Haye
4 - Carl Froch
4 - Junior Witter
6 - Enzo Maccarinelli
7 - Alex Arthur
8 - Amir Khan
9 - Clinton Woods
10 - Kevin Mitchell
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