LAS VEGAS - It was in the 11th round that it happened: Floyd Mayweather so brilliantly bamboozled Andre Berto that it was possible to buy into his claim of being "TBE" -- The Best Ever.
Certainly dozens in the crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday thought so, chanting "TBE! TBE!" as Mayweather earned a unanimous decision over the limited Berto.
The widely expected victory gave Mayweather, 38, a perfect 49-0 record to equal the feat of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano.
Mayweather said before the bout that he had achieved all he could from the fight game and Berto was to be his final victim -- and he repeated that assertion afterwards.
But then it is not the first time the welterweight world champion has quit: he also did so in 2008.
Whether he stays retired this time only time will tell, but fans, pundits and fighters are already evaluating his glittering career and trying to work out what his legacy might be.
Evander Holyfield is in as good a position as anyone to judge where in the pantheon of boxing greats Mayweather ranks.
"Everyone has that opinion of himself and I don't think there's anything wrong with having that opinion," Holyfield, a former heavyweight champion and one of the sport's greats, said when asked if Mayweather really was the best ever.
"But do I really think that about Mayweather? No, I don't. I definitely think he's a great fighter -- I wouldn't take that away from him -- but you can't say best ever until everything stops, each generation is supposed to get better.
"He will definitely go down as one of the great fighters in whatever weight division they choose to put him in. He won the championship in a lot of divisions, but he never fought everybody."
Colorful boxing promoter Don King has seen many of boxing's legends up close, having arranged some of the biggest bouts in the sport's history, including the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Ali and George Foreman.
Mayweather will be remembered as "one of the greatest fighters that ever lived," the famously wild-haired King told reporters on the eve of the Berto showdown.
"He has already achieved that despite his personality, which leaves a lot to be desired. But I love Floyd and his talent and skill are undeniable."