The majority of the 2,500 British fans expected to be in attendance on Saturday landed in the Saudi capital in the morning and made their way to the weigh-in.

Heavyweight legends were also rolled in as Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko watched events unfold.

Wales’ IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina and Belfast’s Anthony Cacace successfully weighed in for their bout, along with the rest of the undercard.

Then it was time for the big men. The boisterous British fans, huddled together, jeered Usyk and erupted – chanting “there’s only one Tyson Fury” – when the Gypsy King entered.

The difference in size has been a hot topic throughout the build-up and Usyk – a former cruiserweight champion – came in only two pounds heavier than when he beat Anthony Joshua in 2022.

At 6ft 3in, he is giving up a six-inch height advantage. Fury also has a reach of 85in, compared to Usyk’s 78in.

Fury, 35, comes in more than stone lighter than his close points win over Francis Ngannou in October.

He was criticised for his conditioning against the boxing debutant and appears to have made the necessary adjustments.

Usyk, 37, and his team had previously mocked Fury by calling him “greedy belly”. This week, their insult has changed to “skinny belly”.

But there are concerns Fury may have lost too much weight, impacting his punch resistance.

Earlier in the week, Briton Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion in the three-belt era, said Fury appears to have lost size in his legs and it could make it easier for him to be knocked down.

At five under par overnight, McIlroy and MacIntyre had the opportunity to push on as the rain eased.

Only the Scot looked likely to take it.

Playing the opposite side of the course to the more celebrated names, he quietly picked up four shots in 10 holes to get to nine under par but after hitting a shot from a hospitality verandah as he scrambled a par on the long seventh, he bogeyed the final two holes as he raced to beat the fading light.

Meanwhile, McIlroy birded the opening hole but was unable to find his form on the greens before the double bogey at 12 wrecked his card. It now seems unlikely his long wait for a major victory will end here at the place where he won his last one in 2014.

Playing partner Justin Rose managed an eagle at the last to join him on five under par while fellow Englishmen Matt Wallace (67) and Aaron Rai (68) improved to seven and six under respectively.

Thirty-one of the past 34 winners of this tournament have been in the top 10 at the halfway stage.

Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, is in that bracket after he shot seven birdies on his way to a 65 as he finished in near darkness to join Scheffler on nine under.

He was joined in the top 10 by 2023 runner-up Viktor Hovland who moved smoothly to eight under with a 66.

Lurking one place outside the top 10, 2023 winner Brooks Koepka matched magical iron play with inconsistent putting in his three-under 68. Five off the lead, the three-time champion remains a threat in this tournament.