LAS VEGAS – Under the blistering lights of the MGM Grand, two titans collided in a battle for supremacy that delivered fireworks outside the ropes and surgical precision inside them. In front of a raucous sell-out crowd and the most lucrative payday the sport had ever seen, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. narrowly edged Oscar De La Hoya by split decision to claim the WBC super welterweight crown.

Billed as The World Awaits, the spectacle lived up to its name—and then some. With $165 million in total gross and a record 2.45 million pay-per-view buys, this was more than just a title bout; it was a clash of brands, legacies, and generational skillsets.

Mayweather, stepping up to 154 pounds for the first time, showcased his trademark defensive mastery and surgical counterpunching. While De La Hoya—active early behind a stiff jab and corner-cutting aggression—commanded the crowd’s admiration, his output lacked the precision needed to score decisively. As the rounds wore on, Mayweather settled into a rhythm, slipping De La Hoya’s flurries and delivering pinpoint right hands that left no doubt with two of the judges.

The scorecards read 116–112 and 115–113 for Mayweather, while one dissenter sided with De La Hoya, 115–113. HBO’s unofficial tally and media ringside reporters also leaned toward Mayweather, citing his superior accuracy—landing 43% of his shots compared to De La Hoya’s 21%.

In a subplot worthy of a Hollywood script, Mayweather Sr. was left ringside—not in the corner—after a failed negotiation to train De La Hoya, who instead turned to Freddie Roach. That decision, in hindsight, became another talking point, as De La Hoya later criticized the preparation.

From celebrity-packed rows to an HBO documentary series that redefined boxing promotion, this bout wasn’t just a fight—it was a cultural landmark. And yet, when the final bell rang, it was Mayweather’s flawless execution that stole the night, proving once again that timing beats power and accuracy outshines aggression.

In the richest night in boxing history, it wasn’t brute force or fanfare that triumphed—it was the sweet science, delivered by a master at work.