Pacquiao and Bradley: Men in briefs

LAS VEGAS—Only in boxing could two men in briefs, their six-pack abdomens glistening in a hail of camera shots, attract so much attention.

The organizers of yesterday’s weigh-in for Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley could not have written a better script.

The protagonists, framed by their handlers and scantily dressed women holding up sponsor signs, stared at each other in their shorts on a small stage while noise cascaded down the densely packed Garden Arena of MGM Grand Hotel.

The scene unfolded as both fighters made the weight for their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday night (late morning Sunday in Manila).

With one fighter “seeking redemption and the other hoping to erase all doubts” according to the weigh-in announcer, the bout promises to be the year’s most anticipated mega match. It is a presentation of Top Rank Promotions and MP Promotions.

Awarded a controversial decision over Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KOs) on June 9, 2012, Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) has been on a “Manny has lost his killer instinct” campaign since.

That’s baloney from Bradley, say the fighting Filipino congressman and Freddie Roach, his Hall-of-Fame trainer.

Both vow to shut Timothy’s mouth for good. MGM opened half of its Garden Arena for the weigh-in at 1 p.m.

By the time Pacquiao and Bradley went onstage at around 3 p.m., the hall was filled to the rafters.

Most weigh-ins in boxing today are predictable and boring. That’s why promoters work up a lather to turn the event into a public spectacle of men prancing in their briefs.

They aim to give many diehards the only chance to see their ring idols in person and trade taunts for the hordes of media from around the world.

But today, the predominantly Pacquiao crowd created its own moments in front of TV cameras. There was feet stomping, Filipino flag waving and booing against Bradley at every turn.

Bradley, aka “Desert Storm,” appeared a good sport who enjoyed the partisan crowd’s catcalls.

At one point, he cuffed his ears and pretended to enjoy it all.

Today’s weigh-in is as tame as they get.

Gone are the cauldron-hot weigh-ins when a heavyweight title made legends of men.

The baddest character in those times was Muhammad Ali, who made the occasion a true bully pulpit for personally insulting his opponents.

Hype or hysterics, Ali won the weigh-in word wars and the classic ring fights that ensued.