Tyson Fury in line for Klitschko after beating Dereck Chisora

Fury was in total control throughout in front of 20,000 fans at the ExCel Arena, with the decisive moment coming between the 10th and 11th rounds, when Chisora's corner decided not to send him back in.

By that point of the bout, Fury was well ahead on points - indeed, he had been after five rounds - while Chisora's face was battered and bloodied.

The 26-year-old winner, now unbeaten in 23 professional fights, was delighted to have put in such a solid performance.

"Which other heavyweight in the world can box southpaw against a world-class fighter like Dereck, a fighter who will give any other heavyweight a tough fight?" said Fury, referring to his tactical switch to southpaw style in the second round.

"I'm very proud of my performance."

Fury is now expected to target a bout against WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

"Tyson's mandatory now for the heavyweight world title," said Fury's promoter, Mick Hennessey.

"Wladimir Klitschko's being allowed one more fight in March or April, then it'll be purse bids, then the fight's on.

"It'll be June to September. The big fight is on, and Klitschko has to just take it and not swerve it."

While the bout was a sell-out, there was controversy among the crowd: the boxers did not even enter the ring until after midnight, and thousands of fans left the arena before the contest even reached the half-way mark - needing to catch the last trains home from London's Docklands.

That was not the only unrest among fans: booing had started as early as the sixth round as Fury, in total control, continually skipped around his opponent and refused to take any risks.

The referee even admonished the boxers over their approach, saying, "Either we fight or we go home."

As the BBC's Ben Dirs put it, "the irony was that thousands had gone home already."