PRETTY CLOSE

When it was all said and done, Floyd Mayweather Jr. backed up his big talk. But the debating is just beginning.

Mayweather won a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya and took away his WBC super welterweight title Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 16,700 at the MGM Grand Garden.

"I told the fans I would give them a good fight, and that's what I did," said Mayweather, who announced his retirement at age 30. "I just fought the best fighter of this era, and I beat him."

But in what was hyped as the biggest event in boxing history, neither fighter was knocked down and the outcome was not obvious after 12 rounds and the announcement of two judges' scorecards.

Judging by the fans' reaction after the decision was announced -- there was a lot of booing from the pro-De La Hoya crowd -- not everyone agreed Mayweather (38-0, 24 knockouts) won.

De La Hoya, the aggressor the whole night, was just as defiant.

"I felt I won the fight," De La Hoya said. "I'm a champion. You have to do more than that to beat a champion."

Chuck Giampa scored the fight 116-112 for Mayweather. Tom Kaczmarek scored it 115-113 for De La Hoya.

The drama came as ring announcer Michael Buffer revealed the decisive score -- Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Mayweather. At that instant, Mayweather jumped and raised his right fist in celebration.

"It was a hell of a fight," he said. "Yes, I'm going to retire. I don't have anything else to prove."

"It was easy work for me," said Mayweather, who closed as a minus-180 favorite at MGM Mirage sports books. "Look at the punch stats, look at the punch stat numbers, and then you can see I'm the new champ."

Mayweather connected on 207 of 481 punches (43 percent). De La Hoya threw 587 punches and landed 122 (21 percent).

In power punches, Mayweather had a clear edge, throwing 241 and landing 138 (57 percent). De La Hoya launched 341 and hit with just 82 (24 percent).

"I was having fun in there," Mayweather said. "I could see his shots coming. I stayed on the outside and made him miss.

"He was rough and tough, but he couldn't beat the best."

About 45 minutes after the fight, the arena was cleared out when Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer Richard Schaefer told the media there was a discrepancy on the scorecards and the outcome might change.

Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, ruled the one scorecard in question was correct and the decision would stand. Schaefer later agreed, saying, "My opinion is it stands."

Interviewed at ringside by HBO, Floyd Mayweather Sr. said he thought De La Hoya was the winner.

De La Hoya (38-5) said he will "wait and see" before deciding his future.

Mayweather was most effective early in the 11th round, when he connected with three right hands to De La Hoya's head.

Each fighter unleashed a flurry of shots in the final 10 seconds of the last round and hugged after the bell as the crowd roared in approval.

De La Hoya stalked Mayweather around the ring from the start, often cutting it off and forcing Mayweather into the corners.

"I was pushing the fight, and if I didn't push the fight, there would be no fight," De La Hoya said.

"I landed the harder, crisper punches. I could see I was hurting him."

Mayweather landed a strong right hand to De La Hoya's head midway through the first round, the only round of the first four that Mayweather clearly won.

De La Hoya started to dictate the action. But that did not stop Mayweather from often mocking him with a smile after De La Hoya's attacks.

Mayweather's right eye was puffed up by the seventh round. Just before the bell in the eighth, De La Hoya connected with a left hook and a right jab to "Pretty Boy" Mayweather's face.

But Mayweather was a strong closer. He hit the "Golden Boy" with a straight right to the jaw to end the 10th round.

De La Hoya was obviously the heavier fighter, coming in at about 10 pounds over the 154 he weighed on Friday. Mayweather said he weighed in Saturday at 148.

Using his size advantage, De La Hoya pinned Mayweather against the ropes late in the last minute of the fourth round and unleashed a flurry of body shots.

Late in the fifth round, Mayweather landed two good shots, including an overhand right to the temple that effectively won him the round.

Mayweather, playing to his opponent's Mexican-American heritage, made an entrance with a Cinco de Mayo theme. Wearing a white sombrero and green, red and white trunks, he was led to the ring by rapper 50 Cent.