If Bernard Hopkins v Oscar de la Hoya did not quite live up to its ludicrously lofty billing, it was through no fault of the fighters. Their Las Vegas showdown had been compared to one of the most memorable middleweight contests ever - Sugar Ray Leonard's victory over Marvin Hagler.
That 1987 bout was blessed with a shock result, the retired Leonard stepping up in weight and dethroning Hagler, who had looked unbeatable.
But Saturday's skirmish went to form with Hopkins - the natural middleweight - defending his crown for the 19th and perhaps penultimate time.
The 39-year-old champion simply had too much power for De la Hoya, an incredible six-weight title holder, who started his career punching featherweights.
America's "Golden Boy" did everything he could to spring a surprise, bravely going toe-to-toe with the bigger man when it became clear that his speed advantage was negligible.
 |  I would fight Roy Jones at the drop of a dime |
"He didn't run, I give him a lot of credit," said a magnanimous Hopkins, who had come into the fight light to match his opponent's mobility.
"He came to box. The struggle was trying to get him to do what I wanted to do - that was hard in the first few rounds."
When Hopkins supplied a finish with a fierce body blow in round nine, he left the mark of his middleweight dominance on the canvas in the shape of a wincing and frustrated De la Hoya, who took a full minute to rise again.
"I set him up with a jab, and then I threw the left," he said.
"Then I heard the 'uh' sound, and I knew the wind was completely out of him."
 De la Hoya showed guts in defeat |
The wind may now have been knocked out of the 31-year-old De la Hoya's career and Hopkins will also walk away soon, having long stated his intention to retire after another defence (his 20th).
This is sad news for boxing because Saturday's encounter was as honest a contest as the paying public could hope to see in an era of questionable match-ups.
De la Hoya, who has never dodged a challenge, put his life on the line against a man who has not lost since 1993.
The prospect of avenging that defeat - to Roy Jones Jr - may yet set up one more glorious payday for Hopkins, who admitted: "I would fight Roy at the drop of a dime."
Boxing fans should pray he gets the chance because alternative tantalising showdowns are in thin supply at the moment - as are pure warriors like Hopkins and De la Hoya.
MMIX
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