By Jake Donovan

Defending lightweight titlist David Diaz and former three-division linear world champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao both made weight for tomorrow night’s HBO Pay-Per-View main event, to be aired live from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada (Saturday, 9PM ET/6PM PT).

Diaz checked in at the lightweight limit of 135 lb. Pacquiao came slightly under at 134.5 lb.

Fresh off of his linear junior lightweight title winning effort over Juan Manuel Marquez this past March, Pacquiao (46-3-2, 35KO) makes his lightweight debut. If the odds play out (Pacquiao more than a 5-1 favorite) he will become the first Filipino in boxing history to capture alphabet titles in four separate weight classes. Boxing purists would add a fifth division to that tally, recognizing his reign as linear featherweight champ from 2003 to 2005.

Tomorrow’s bout is easily the biggest in the career of Diaz (34-1, 17KO), a 1996 Olympian whose career took about a decade or so to get on track. He won the title which is at stake in dramatic fashion, rallying from way down on the scorecards to knockout Jose Armando Santa Cruz in ten rounds in August 2006.

This will only be Diaz’ second defense, having defeated and retired former three-division titlist Erik Morales last August. His last fight was a non-title tune up on the Pacquiao-Marquez II PPV undercard, outpointing Ramon Montano in a ten-round affair.

Regarding the undercard, featherweight titlist Steve Luevano (35-1, 15KO) was originally announced at one-half pound over the limit before stripping down to his birthday to make the 126 lb limit. His challenger, Puerto Rican contender Mario Santiago (19-1, 14KO) made weight on the first try, clocking in at 125 lb.

Humberto Soto (44-6-2, 28KO) and Francisco Lorenzo (32-4, 14KO) both weighed in at 130 lb for their 12-round junior lightweight bout. At stake is the interim version of the alphabet title Pacquiao figures to leave behind should he emerge victorious in the main event. This belt isn’t to be confused with his linear claim, which would functionally become vacant if he decides to remain at lightweight or heavier.

Speaking of heavier, a pair of fringe heavyweight contenders will also appear on the pay-per-view telecast, with Tye Fields (41-1, 37KO) and Monte Barrett (36-6, 19KO) set to throw down in a 10-round affair. Barrett weighed in at 220 lb, and will be conceding a whopping 45 lb. to his challenger, with Fields’ announced weight at 265, slightly lighter than his past two fights.

It was announced prior to the weigh-in that ticket sales “have really picked up in the last 48 hours.” The equivalent would be a fighter smiling after getting popped in the grill during a course of the fight – a front that it’s all good, when in reality it’s not.

Missing was the buzz and atmosphere that normally accompanies a Manny Pacquiao event. Whether it was due to the scaled-down promotion (less advertising than usual, no HBO Countdown special) or the odds suggestive of a less-than-competitive fight (Diaz was announced as a 4-1 underdog prior to the weigh-in), it’s clear that this “event” has been greeted as just another fight by most.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.