Floyd Mayweather announced his comeback this week with predictable bombast, bellowing that his fight against WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz would be "the biggest international boxing event of 2011".
That may come as news to Mayweather's long-time rival Manny Pacquiao, who has firmly established himself as the sport's number one during his hiatus, not to mention the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye.
Sure, a Mayweather comeback is big news. In fights against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, 'Pretty Boy' has proved himself indisputably one of the most talented fighters ever to lace on gloves.
But as the hype starts to run its predictable course towards his contest with the relatively average Ortiz on September 17, it may even begin to reach Mayweather's attention things have changed in his 16-month absence.
"At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for - a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me," said Mayweather.
"I am ready to give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there."
The inescapable truth for Mayweather is that the longer he resists alluding to the only fight boxing fans are really interested in - against Pacquiao - the more he risks tarnishing his legacy by continuing to fight.
You can dazzle against 41 consecutive opponents and make extraordinary amounts of money in the process, but your claims of all-time greatness begin to ring a little hollow so long as you continue to duck a guy from your own generation.
Ortiz, by contrast, is not that. He is a fine fighter who scored a commendable win over former champion Andre Berto last time out. But all the signs are he is a careless, attacking fighter who is just made for Mayweather.
Ortiz was floored by Berto before returning the favor and clambering up to win, and was also floored twice and eventually stopped in the sixth round by former Amir Khan conquest Marcos Maidana back in 2009.
You can hardly blame Mayweather for slecting Ortiz as the opponent for his comeback from such a lengthy absence, but the bluster which accompanies it - and in particular, the continued absence of that eight-letter word - just makes him look silly.
The hope for boxing is Mayweather will polish off Ortiz and immediately turn his attention to Pacquiao, shrugging aside the ever-so-spurious dope test argument and at least having his team re-engage in credible talks.
Until he does that, it is only Mayweather who will continue to suffer. Pacquiao has long been deemed the innocent party and most likely now anointed the overwhelming fans' favorite should such a contest ever materialise.
Pacquiao has continued to earn colossal praise for hammering all-comers while Mayweather has lingered in the background in what seems to have been a lavish if rather uncomfortable state of semi-retirement.
Pacquiao speaks of finishing boxing to go into politics and were he to walk out on his sport tomorrow he would do so in the knowledge he had fought and beaten the very best willing and available opponents of his time.
The same could not be said for Mayweather. The sense is the Pacquiao fight is there for taking if he wants it. Instead he seems intent on logging extra alphabet titles and protecting his aura of invincibility against the likes of Ortiz.
Make no mistake, boxing needs the razzle-dazzle swagger of Mayweather. He is a fighter of such sublime gifts boxing folk would send pay-per-view sales skywards just to watch him dance round a heavy bag.
His fight against Ortiz will, indeed, be one of the biggest nights of boxing this year. Even when he predictably dismantles his game but relatively limited opponent, there will be plenty of beauty in the execution.
Mayweather's abiding irritation is there is one more man out there who just might be better than he. The longer he finds ways to put off such a summit, the more the power - now, and for the future - falls into the blurring fists of Pacquiao.
