Floyd Mayweather Jr. created a controversy by saying he was better than Muhammad Ali ahead of his uber-hyped bout with Manny Pacquiao.
Many people disagree with that, but Mayweather put on a tactical display that you might have seen from Ali in his later years.
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Mayweather outlasted Pacquiao by using his feet, riding the ropes and picking his spots with precision to remain undefeated.
It was a strategy similar to the one Ali used to win the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" against heavily-favored George Foreman. Mayweather spent much of the first half of the fight on the defensive, letting Pacquiao punch to his heart's content.
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Mayweather maintained control of the fight from start to finish, even when it looked like he was one Pacquiao power punch away from putting a permanent stain on his previously perfect record.
"I knew he was going to push me, I knew that he was going to win some rounds," Mayweather said after the fight. "He had moments in the fight, but I kept him on the outside. I was a smart fighter."
As the rounds advanced, Mayweather began to open up, consistently hitting his opponent with measured shots. Meanwhile, Pacquiao remained busy, but his punches were largely hit or miss.
"I am a calculated fighter," Mayweather said after the fight.
#MayPac final punch stats courtesy of @CompuBox. #boxing #boxeo pic.twitter.com/aNVmPAPP9I
— Ryan Maquiñana (@RMaq28) May 3, 2015The final scorecard supports Mayweather's claim. He threw more punches (435 to 429) and landed a much higher percentage (34 to 19). He was even more effective with his jab, landing 67 to Pacquiao's 19.
In the end, Mayweather did what Mayweather does — play great defense and hit high percent shots. That may not have been enough to please the blood thirsty, but it was enough to win the fight and ensure his legacy remains.