The 42-year-old was sitting at the press conference which followed the 50th and therefore final fight of his remarkable career.

It had unfolded as an untidy but absorbing heavyweight brawl against another of the division's veterans Deontay Wilder, who claimed a split decision at London’s O2 Arena, very much Chisora’s home pitch over the years.

The press conference, held in one of the arena's now-emptied VIP bars, certainly had the feeling of a farewell set-piece, as Chisora was joined by his two youngest children on the top table for his immediate reflections on the fight.

It was a few years back that Chisora, who had been encouraged to retire by many leading figures in boxing, decided that he wanted to keep going until he brought up his half century. That was the goal and he would not stop until he did so.

But now, with 50 on the board, split 36-14, it should have been a straightforward question to answer.

“Do you still feel like you want to fight again?” The Ring asked. Then came the pause.

“You know what,” he said. “I don’t know. The God’s honest truth, I do not know.”

At this point Chisora looked down to his infant son Zion, snoozing on his chest, and asked him instead. Unsurprisingly the one-year-old failed to produce a reasoned argument either way.

Another reporter asked Chisora how he felt now his career was officially over. This time the response was much faster.

“It’s not over,” he replied before clarifying. “I said it’s not over but I didn’t say I’m going to fight again, maybe I’ll do something else in boxing.

“Listen, it was a great fight. I’ve got to go home and talk to the boss [his partner] but it is what it is.”

Chisora had weighed in a career-heaviest 266 ¾ pounds, more than 20 pounds heavier than the trim 23-year-old who started his career across London at Wembley Arena in February 2007.

Few at the time would have predicted the career that followed. Even fewer would have predicted his emergence as one of the most loved cult heroes of his generation.

It is why thousands packed the O2 to see his potential final dance on Saturday night, and they sung his name as he emerged on stage for the last time.

“When I was standing there I was like, 'here I go again,'” he said of his ringwalk. “What am I doing here? But I’ll be honest with you, I’m tired now and I can’t do it anymore. You know when you know it’s time, it’s time. I’ve had a great career, it’s been amazing.”

And what of Wilder, who also brought up 50 fights with this split decision victory, his first points win since he beat Bermane Stiverne to become WBC heavyweight champion in January 2015.

At no point did the Bronze Bomber suggest that the curtain would fall on his career in London, in fact, he insists he will only get better from here on in. But how does Chisora expect the 40-year-old Wilder to handle the division’s major players now?

“He will do well,” Chisora said. “He’s got power. Wilder’s got power for the first three rounds and after it fades away. But he’s got that power and I’m not going to take that away from him.”