Rarely could two sides of the same room tell such contrasting tales.
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To the left stood newly-crowned ANBF NSW welterweight champion Abe Archibald (5-0-1), surrounded by family and friends in matching shirts scrambling to get a photo with the unbeaten title holder.
Before long they would break into a rendition of Glory Glory to South Sydney in a nod to Archibald's beloved rugby league team to celebrate the biggest win of his professional boxing career.
And tucked deep in the right corner was Jorge Kapeen (2-1) with an ice pack on his head and a smile on his face, playing with his son.
It was a gentle reminder that losing a title is not the end of the world. Instead Kapeen painted a picture of pride, for this was perhaps the greatest fight Canberra has ever seen.
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Archibald prevailed via unanimous decision (77-75, 78-74, 77-76) in an eight-round display of what started as a purist's dream and developed into a war of attrition.
It brought the crowd inside the Hellenic Club of Canberra to its feet. The roar inside the closing stages of the final round were enough to send chills down one's spine.
Wins and losses aside, this fight was the making of these two friends turned rivals - if only during fight camp.
"To be honest, I decided after the last fight I was going to move down in weight and I was next in line for a state title shot. It just so happened Jorge had that state title. We took the fight," Archibald said.
"They said I wouldn't make welterweight, I made welterweight. They said I couldn't go eight rounds, I went eight and outboxed him the whole time.
"On the other side of that, Jorge is my good friend and we will always be good friends inside and outside boxing. It was a tough one to get my head around competing against him.
"In the amateurs everyone fights everyone, but in the pros, it's more personal. There was a lot of hype around the event.
"I can't go on social media without seeing it, people I haven't talked to in a decade are messaging me.
"I just couldn't get away from it, there was that hype and I got the win. I'm very proud."
It is a fight Canberra fans are yearning to see again, and Kapeen is desperate to get a shot at reclaiming his championship under the bright lights of live television on Fox Sports.
Capital Fight Show promoter Nick Boutzos is set to officially sign off on a deal with Dean Lonergan of D&L Events this week to bring the National Boxing Series to Canberra in June.
Two of Lonergan's prospects - some of whom are a handful of fights away from world title shots - will fill the main and co-main event slots.
It leaves three bouts open for Canberrans to force their way onto the televised card, while the remainder will compete before the live show goes to air.
"To me, that's what it's about. It's about putting on great fights for Canberra, for anyone that's paying their money to come and watch fights," Kapeen said.
"I want to be in entertaining, evenly-matched contests. I don't want to be in easy fights. I've had three fights now, two of them have been undefeated fighters and one was the NSW champion.
"In my personal opinion, I think that fight was a coin flip and it could have gone either way. I gave Abe his shot, hopefully they give me a shot and we can do it again.
"It would mean a lot, not just because I lost my belt, but because if we put that kind of show on again on a platform like Foxtel, it will be great publicity for both of us and for Canberra. I think it's something that has to happen again.
"I'll be back in the gym on Monday."
Archibald claimed the $1000 performance of the night bonus, while Alex Cooper (3-0) claimed the knockout of the night award after stopping Ray Ingram - the first time anyone has done so in 23 bouts.
Meanwhile, the ANBF Australian heavyweight championship could be on the line in Canberra come June with Arsene Fosso eyeing a title shot.
Fosso was supposed to fight Patrick Thunder for the NSW strap before his opponent pulled out on Wednesday.
AT A GLANCE
Capital Fight Show 19:
ANBF NSW welterweight championship: Abe Archibald (5-0-1) bt Jorge Kapeen (2-1) via unanimous decision (77-75, 78-74, 77-76)
Middleweight: Beau Hartas (6-1) v Adam Stowe (6-2-2) ended in a no-contest. Stowe looked to be the victor when the referee stopped the fight late in the third round, however it was ruled time had elapsed in the three-minute round and the bell hadn't rung due to a timekeeper's error.
Super welterweight: Alex Cooper (3-0) bt Ray Ingram (2-19-2) via TKO (R2, Ingram retired before round three)
Heavyweight: Daryll Hall (3-0) bt Rob Baron (0-5) via KO (R1, 2:23)
Super featherweight: Dylan Hadley (3-0) bt Chris Oliver (1-3) via TKO (R1, 1:53)
Super welterweight: Jason Medawar (1-0) bt Ferdi Bartulovic (2-2-1) via TKO (R2, 2:08)