The Holy Grail of boxing is to be found deep inside the minds of the blood brotherhood and within that labyrinth the Pacman is defeating the Money Man without them throwing so much as a single punch at each other.
From the rooftops of the Las Vegas casinos in which he treats dollar bills like confetti, Floyd Mayweather Jr screams denial of Manny Pacquiao's claim to be the supreme pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. But in the esteem of the congoscenti he is just whistling into the desert wind.
America's boxing writers have spoken, voting Pacquiao as not only their fighter of the year but their boxer of the decade just ended.
Not only that, but 2009 represents the third time in four years that they have bestowed their Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy upon the Filipino phenomenon who has now won world titles in an unprecedented seven weight divisions.
In direct comparison, Pacquiao obliterated and concussed our own Ricky Hatton while Mayweather took longer to inflict an orthodox stoppage. But clearly the Pacman's willingness to meet the toughest rivals virtually regardless of differential in poundage weighed most heavily on the ballot.
Pacquiao receives his latest awards at a New York dinner in June. By then, on March 13, he will have fought - and by most predictions defeated - Ghana's dangerous world welterweight champion Joshua Clottey in the first boxing event to be staged in the Dallas Cowboys stadium.
Such is Pacquiao's popularity that the venue will be configured for a 50,000 seat sell out. This, in the wake of his stunning 12th round KO of two time world champion Miguel Cotto last autumn which drew such huge crowds to the Strip that it is credited for kick-starting a post-recession recovery of the Las Vegas economy. Then, in May, Pacquiao is expected to win another election, this time for a seat in the Philippine congress.
Mayweather, meanwhile, will confine himself to his hometown Vegas and a May 1 encounter with the veteran Shane Mosley, which would have been one helluva fight had it taken place when the now 38-year-old Sugar Shane was five years younger.
On top of the world: Manny Pacquiao swings at Miguel Cotto
While there is no doubting Mayweather's mastery of the noble arts, this is in keeping with his apparent preference for taking on opponents who are either past their prime or smaller than himself.
Of course, the Pacman and the Money Man should be making an even more massive fortune by fighting each other. That match was made for next month and, naturally, each is blaming the other for its cancellation.
Mayweather called for constant dope testing. Pacquiao, who has no history in that regard, resented the insinuation that he was guilty of malpractice.
The terms of this dispute have been documented exhaustively and will be delved into yet deeper if and when Pacquiao's libel action goes to court.
Only Mayweather can tells us whether it is really the undiminished punching power which the smaller Pacquiao, quite exceptionally, has carried up with him through the weight classes which is preying on his mind.
It does not convince us to the contrary when he keeps carping on about how his next fight will be subject to an Olympic-standard drugs regime. Not when Mosley has tested positive in the past.
But if Mayweather wants to challenge the Boxer of the Decade for the mytholgocial pound-for-pound title, there is only one place he can do so. He will have to meet Pacquiao face-to-face in the ring...and sooner rather than later.
That is the best news from our boxing writing colleagues in the US. By honouring the Pacman they apply moral pressure on the Money Man to meet that date with destiny, perhaps as early as September in what would be the first candidate for Fight of the new Decade.
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