Pacquiao makes the grade

Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Jessie Vargas pose during a weigh-in, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a welterweight title bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

LAS VEGAS–When Manny Pacquiao stepped into the weighing scale, the predominantly Filipino crowd that came to watch the official weigh-in of The Legend vs The Champ at Encore Theater turned silent for a moment Friday afternoon.

They waited anxiously, then applauded when it was announced that Pacquiao was just 144.8 pounds, well within the 147-pound limit of the welterweight division.

The champion, Jessie Vargas, checked-in next and was listed at 146.5.

READ: Bradley: Vargas not on Pacquiao’s level

It was expected as Vargas towers over the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao by four inches.

As soon as Vargas’ turn was over, an associate handed him a bottle of hydrating drink which he gulped down right away.

It might be an indication that Vargas got dehydrated as he tried to bring his weight down this week, a day before he dangles the World Boxing Organization crown against Pacquiao, who has a perennial problem that other boxers would like to have.

READ: Pacquiao fights Jessie Vargas in bout that’s a tough sell

So as not to become malnourished during training camp, Pacquiao has to eat huge amount of food four times a day to bulk up a bit, perhaps 147 to 148 pounds on fight night, according to chief trainer Freddie Roach.

Vargas, according to trainer Dewey Cooper, will likely climb to 154 pounds so as not to impede his speed and keep his power.

While the protagonists in the headliner breezed through the weigh-in, those in the undercard seemed to have struggled in the battle of the bulge.

READ: Pacquiao likes to give more than he receives

Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. appeared pale as he weighed 121.8 pounds, slightly heavier that that of Magdaleno, who checked in at 121.25.

After the weigh-in, Pacquiao proceeded to his suite at Wynn and started his weight-gaining binge by eating chicken kebab, bulalo and beef steak for breakfast.

He had a lot to make up for as 144.8 was his second lightest since climbing to the welterweight division.

READ: Pacquiao eager to reclaim WBO welterweight title

Pacquiao only hit 143.5 when he fought against Chris Algieri, who weighed 143.6, in Macau two years ago.

The weigh-in turned out to be a global affair as the boxers were plucked out from different parts of the world.

Mexican Oscar Valdez will stake his clean slate (21-0, 18 KOs) and WBO feaherweight title against Japanese Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) while Chinese pride Zou Shiming (8-1, 2 KOs) will dispute the vacant WBO fyweight crown against Thai Prasitak Phaprom (39-1-2, 24 KOs).

Also represented were Brazil (Robson Conceicao), Russia (Alexander Besputin), and Panama (Azael Cosio). —Brought to you by: Café Puro