The anticipation ran for weeks, the trash talk flowed liberally, and as the hour neared to the biggest all-Australian fight of all time approached, boxing fans stood with their credit cards at the ready.
In the end they paid more than 60 cents per second to watch the underwhelming end to Anthony Mundine's career – a final sequence so short it can be watched almost in its entirety for free on social media.
The blockbuster fight was foreshadowed to be one of the most watched pay-per-view events in Australian boxing history, with punters paying $59.95 to watch the event online.
Jeff Horn ended Mundine's career in 96 seconds with a left hook to his chin.
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And with that, The Man bowed out of the ring altogether – ending an 18-year professional career with 48 wins and nine losses.
Mundine paid tribute to "next generation" Horn – now the undisputed main event of Australian boxing.
"Jeff proved tonight he's the better man," Mundine said. "That's the next generation man. I was ready. I was prepared well. It's just boxing, you get caught sometimes."
Fans, meanwhile, were somewhat miffed at the brevity of the spectacle. For some it was an unfitting end to an otherwise long, stellar career, while others relished in the swift defeat of The Man they loved to hate.
Lisa Visentin is state political reporter. She has previously covered urban affairs, and worked in federal parliament.
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