Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates after defeating Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision in the world welterweight championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.Joe Camporeale
On Saturday night, Floyd Mayweather drew the entire world to Las Vegas in the richest individual event in sports history.
Beforehand, it was billed as a mission to save boxing. It was designed to give the most basic athletic endeavour – men fighting each other – new impetus going forward.
It failed. It failed in spectacular fashion.
The world's celebrities showed up, pushed to the perimeter of the MGM Grand Garden Arena by the sheer bold-faced volume. So many people rushed in to buy the fight on pay-per-view at the last minute, the start was pushed back by a half-hour. Once it was over, someone handed Mayweather an instalment cheque for $100-million (U.S.).
Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision after a dreary defensive slog. There won't be a rematch.
In the aftermath, Mayweather gave a long, meandering oration justifying his place in history and his character. He doesn't need to defend the former, and, after a disastrous week as the centre of all our attention, can't redeem the latter.
He won a boxing match. He drew famed and feted names into his orbit. He created a global moment.
And, amazingly, Floyd Mayweather still lost.