Graf, a heavyweight himself, had won both his recent APB bouts over the summer, while 2014 Asian Games gold medallist Pinchuk had gone 5-2 since October 2014.

In what was a suitably tight affair in the Esprit Arena, former ASBC Asian champion Pinchuk began at a more considered pace as he looked to conserve his energies for the latter stages of the eight-round contest.

He soon found his range and rhythm in the second round though, delivering several powerful blows that his German opponent could not reply to.

Graf then found some success with his left jab as he sought a route through his opponent’s solid defences and, having landed a typically incisive combination in the first minute of the fifth round, looked to have the upper hand just after the halfway point.

But Pinchuk rallied, finishing strongly to win 77-75 on all three judges’ scorecards and take the top position in the APB heavyweight rankings.

The fight, the first of its kind, marked the beginning of a "new era", according to world governing body AIBA.

Traditionally an organisation for amateur boxers, AIBA has now increasingly opened its doors for pro fighters through its APB scheme, which was launched last year.

This allows a boxer to turn pro while remaining under the patronage of their National Federation, and therefore AIBA, throughout their career.

Consequently, the fighters involved retain the right to represent their country and feature at the Olympics.

The contest between Pinchuk and Graf was one of five undercard bouts building up to Klitschko’s bid to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO belts against Fury.

It proved to be an unsuccessful one for the Ukrainian as Fury defied the expectations of many within the boxing world to win 115-112, 115-112, 116-111 on the judges' scorecards.

Victory for the Manchester fighter saw him become Britain's fifth bona fide heavyweight world champion after Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and David Haye, and brought an end to Klitschko’s nine-year reign as champion.

"You're a great champion Wlad, thanks very much for having me," said Fury, shortly after his win was announced.



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