When Tyson Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in the seventh round of their bout on Saturday night, he fulfilled a pledge made online seven years earlier.
In October 2013, six months after taking down Steve Cunningham in New York and not the type to back away from a challenge, Fury sent Wilder a message on Twitter.
“The biggest fight of my era will be @BronzeBomber! But ill [sic] knock him out!” Fury wrote.
Wilder, who was riding a 30-0 record, replied: “ Tyson Fury COME... COME... my friend,” he fired back.
“I will make it worth your wild, beside once I get this WBC belt it’s game over for you all.”
It was a rivalry that had been building over the years, so it was no surprise to see the two caught up in an exchange of verbal blows for several years.
Unfortunately for Wilder, his warnings were just that - with the 34-year old dominated in the ring and rarely looking like troubling the Gypsy King.
Fury gained the early momentum with a clean left jab in the opening round before dropping Wilder twice in the bout and causing serious damage to his mouth and ear.
The Bronze Bomber struggled from that point on, falling to his first defeat in 44 fights with Fury controlled in his approach.