The contest, which had been billed as a duel between the matador and the bull was, for long periods more akin to a couple of stags wrestling for supremacy. Pretty it was not, but following an absorbing battle which produced more spells of intriguing action than had been anticipated, the Uzbekhistan fighter was adjudged the winner by 117-110, 117-111, 117-111.

Skelton, 40, the former mixed martial arts fighter who was endeavouring to break the eastern European stranglehold of boxing’s blue riband division after turning pro as recently as Sept 2002, was far from disgraced. The man he lost to is - with the exception of International Boxing Federation title-holder Wladimir Klitschko - the world’s premier heavyweight who on this showing would give the giant Ukrainian a decent argument.

"My aim was to come here and win so I’m disappointed I let it slip away in the latter rounds," a crestfallen Skelton said afterwards. "He’s a clever fighter who covers up well but I think I gave him a fight. He caught me with some good shots but at this level that’s what you expect. This was a great opportunity for me and I’m deeply upset I coudn’t quite pull it off." Even so, Skelton has come a long way for a fighter who, by his own frank admission, lacked skill and a killer knockout punch. And while his opponent had been a top amateur, the Bedford fighter did not have a single contest in the unpaid ranks prior to turning professional. What he does have is phenomenal fitness and a blistering workrate.

The man in the opposite corner was, however, a real-life giant-killer who, on his last outing in April, caused a significant upset by outpointing the 7ft 2in previously unbeaten Russian Nicolai Valuev.

Skelton began crisply, jolting the smaller man with a fierce right hand and following up with a long left jab which backed Chagaev up against the ropes. He maintained this impressive opening with some equally eye-catching combinations although Chagaev replied with clean counters.

The champion’s left hook was the danger punch and, with the action continuing at close quarters, he did manage to land it in round three, but the challenger took it well. Chagaev, 29, appeared to have overcome his indifferent start and was increasingly finding his range. Skelton continued to power forward, only to be picked off by rights and lefts over the top.

The sixth could have been fought in the proverbial phone booth, with Skelton bulldozing his man into the ropes, taking a few savage hooks, but continuing to land some fearsome uppercuts. He was hurt by a breathtaking salvo early in the seventh, though, and in the eighth was deducted a point for holding.

With four rounds to go Chagaev produced a flurry which had Skelton retreating. The rugged champion again scored well going into the tenth but the impassive Briton again came back. Suddenly, however, the ferocious pace looked to be telling on Skelton.

Both men landed some huge bombs in the last, but the cleaner shots were coming from Chagaev. A right uppercut shook Skelton, but he bravely answered with a chopping right of his own. Chagaev was fighting like a man who sensed he had to win the last round to ensure victory even though the judges in fact had him well ahead. The fighters embraced as the final bell sounded.