LAS VEGAS ? There was a time when Manny Pacquiao fights owned Las Vegas, dominating the neon city much like the Filipino superstar overwhelmed his opponents.
It is a time that has past, which is either a sign of Pacquiao?s diminished aura or indicative of the boxing game having shed some of its luster, depending on who you listen to.
The Strip heaved with humanity for much of this week, yet the masses assembled for a major national car show and bull riding championship, rather than Pacquiao?s attempt at winning an historic 11th world title, when he battles WBO welterweight champ Jessie Vargas on Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center.
?Where did all the boxing people go?,? Nathan Chavez, a Filipino-American from Yorba Linda, Calif., told USA TODAY Sports. ?I didn?t expect this to be as big as when Manny fought (Floyd) Mayweather, but I thought there would be more life than this.?
IT?S COMPLICATED: How Pacquiao balances boxing, politics
Chavez was part of a 100-strong group of fans who came to Mayweather-Pacquiao in May 2015. Another batch of 50-plus came when Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley earlier this year. For this fight, just 12 made the drive to Sin City from Southern California.
It is all a little unfortunate, because this Pacquiao bout carries some welcome intrigue. Logic suggests he should have too much for Vargas, but he is now 37 and had to fit his training camp around the rigors of serving as a senator in his homeland.
?I have everything to prove,? Pacquiao said on Friday.
Boxing has suffered in general in the 18 months since what was billed as the ?Fight of the Century? between Pacquiao and Mayweather yet turned out to be anything but. Pay-per-view figures are down, ticket sales have been slow across the board, and the sport is feeling a little bruised and battered. A spectacular show would go some way to arresting that trend.
Vargas is 27 and full of hunger, complete with the knowledge that claiming the scalp of a modern legend would catapult him to a new sphere of fame and earning force.
?Manny Pacquiao has had a great career, and it would mean the world to me to beat him,? Vargas said. ?The few who have beaten him have become legends, and I look forward to joining that group.?
NOT AGAIN: Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch last thing boxing needs
No one likes to see an old boxer past his expiration date, yet Pacquiao is far from being at that point, despite his advancing years. He comprehensively outdueled Bradley in his last fight before heading into a retirement that few believed and ultimately lasted all of seven months.
He weighed in at 144.8 pounds on Friday, with the taller Vargas at 146.5. The weigh-in ceremony was held at the Encore Theater in the casino of the same name, but could not have been more different to the same procedure before Pacquiao fought Mayweather. Back then, a capacity crowd filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena in what was the first boxing event ever to charge a fee for seeing two boxers strip to their underwear.
CONFIDENT: Vargas ready to beat Pacquiao, become a star
It is unjust, of course, to compare all fights to that unique and ultimately disappointing event, won on points by Mayweather in a dull fight lacking action. But one thing is clear: Boxing is in need of some events that outperform the associated hype instead of too many that failed to live up to it.
Pacquiao has a role to play in that, and an impressive performance would go a long way to reestablishing him as a draw capable of enticing big PPV numbers.
For now, he is available at a discount, and that might not be such a bad thing. Tickets were still available late Friday, with a further large batch going for as little as $80 on the secondary market.
Hopefully they get snapped up, and the purchasers have cause to feel they got good value. Boxing is ready for an event that over-delivers.
(Photo of Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas at their Friday weigh-in by John Locher, AP.)
