Floyd Mayweather Jr. UD 12 Manny Pacquiao, May 2, 2015

After a half-decade of delay, this so-called "Fight of the Century" was much more of a dud than a bang. 

Still, it was the most-watched and lucrative boxing match in history, and for better or worse, it's emblematic of this current era of the "1 percent" vs. "the 99." 

In Las Vegas, the private jets of the rich and famous packed McCarran International Airport. Inside the MGM Grand, an endless stream of celebrities filed past the cameras.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the poor crowded close together to watch the satellite feed on outdoor screens. 

And even if the fight itself lacked drama, the pageantry surrounding it was clearly iconic. For younger fans, it was a moment of edification, and for older fans, it was a welcome reminder that no other cultural event can rival a big-time prizefight when it comes to making the entire world stop and pay attention. 

For the first time in a generation, the Mayweather-Pacquiao clash raised the Sweet Science back to the glamour it deserves.