It was deemed "The One." The mammoth fight between Floyd Mayweather and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez put every revenue record on notice and promised to revive the sport.
But all that buildup made it virtually impossible for the match to deliver.
We were expecting the strongest fight in decades. Maybe we were hoping Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior would come out to set up a thrilling tag team match.
What we got instead was a one-sided affair that provided little drama or intrigue.
Mayweather seized control of the bout from the opening bell, refusing to let his powerful foe intimidate him. While the veteran displayed his lockdown quickness and fleet feet, he also held his ground and delivered hard blows.
According to CompuBox, Mayweather landed 232 of 505 total punches throughout the fight, and Alvarez connected on 117 of 526. Alvarez failed to thump more punches in any of the 12 rounds, leaving the winner in little doubt.
"Money" can't be blamed for any disappointment. He delivered one of the best matches of his career, demonstrating why he is perceived as the pound-for-pound king against a previously undefeated opponent who packs a mean hook.
The star glided to 45-0 with precision despite reports of playing through pain. According to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, the 36-year-old felt limited in the later rounds due to a possible elbow injury.
Those in Mayweather's corner are satisfied with watching the boxer display his awesomeness, but others would rather witness a close contest with some unpredictability.
Alvarez played the underdog role to perfection. He's 13 years younger than Mayweather, and he pocketed less than one-third of his opponent's earnings for the same fight. And his nickname, "Canelo," plays off the Spanish word for cinnamon. Who doesn't love cinnamon?
Competition drives a sports narrative, so it's a downer when the outcome is solidified halfway through the event. Mayweather stripped the evening of any suspense, turning "The One" into just another one of his victories.
Based on the Las Vegas crowd, Alvarez played the hero while Mayweather demonstrated that the villain doesn't always get his comeuppance. Who would have enjoyed the Rocky series had the gritty boxer not eventually overcome the bombastic Apollo Creed to become champion?
Maybe this fight was the first in a larger installment for the young fighter. The scorned Mexican fan favorite can return to challenge Mayweather again, nobly rejecting a proposal from C.J. Ross to conspire against the unified champion before winning the honorable way.
But as a standalone feature, Saturday night's megafight needed a better script.
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