Las Vegas: Manny Pacquiao was in extraordinary form last night, both inside the ring, where he dismantled Miguel Cotto to win a world title in a seventh different weight division (a record), and outside the ring, where he interrupted his jovial post-fight press conference to sing a love song for the assembled backs.
"I'm just ordinary,'' the always humble Manny had said earlier in the proceedings. As a singer, perhaps. As a boxer not a chance.
It is always hard to separate the reality from the fantasy in the world of professional boxing, especially when ageless circus barkers like Bob Arum are involved, but one of the many beauties having Pacquiao around is that he makes everyone's life easier.
No claim too outlandish
He is hyperbole made flesh, the man for whom no claim is too outlandish. So it is that when Arum, who promotes the Filipino's fights, steps up the microphone and says Pacquiao is the "Tiger Woods of boxing" those who are listening are inclined to give the suggestion a fair hearing.
Likewise when Arum stood up and said, as he did in the aftermath of last night's display, and that Pacquiao is the greatest boxer he had ever seen "and I've seen them all, including Ali, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard" no-one laughed they simply started debating.
Is the Filipino that good? Well, the truth of it is we will never know. Cross-generational comparisons in sport are the every definition of futility like trying to catch a deluge in a paper cup, as a wise songwriter once decreed. Is he better than Ali? You might as well ask if Arkle was better than Sea the Stars. Same animal, different sport altogether.
Still, there are some things we can say about Pacquiao that are surely beyond debate, the first being that, as boxer, he has exceeded all expectations, perhaps even his own.
He certainly made fools of those, like Ricky Hatton, who suggested prior to last night's contest at the GM Grand in Vegas that he would have neither the stamina to go the distance with Cotto, far less beat him.
Not only did he beat the Puerto Rican, he humbled him, just as he had humbled the aforementioned Hatton and Oscar dela Hoya in his two previous appearances in the same arena.
Those victories illustrated Pacquiao's ring mobility and hand-speed, cementing his reputation as the most naturally gifted boxer of his generation.
Last night's fight proved he is also one of the toughest and strongest.
As for the unofficial title best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? Well, the jury has all but made its decision, although wise counsel suggests that one more piece of evidence in required.
The mercurial Floyd Mayweather Jr was nowhere to be seen around the MGM Grand last night, but his presence was felt everywhere and it will be demanded when the world of boxing gathers assembles once again for one of these occasions.
