College and high school sports call it “rebuilding.” Boxing calls it a pause to catch a breath.

There is a natural vacuum after a sport or a team feels stocked with talent and then loses it. Just as teams graduate scores of players, becoming temporarily weakened, boxing must rebuild after stellar campaigns in 2007 and 2008.

“You always want to see the best fight each other, and this really worked out well for the fans in 2008,” says Keith Kizer, the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s executive director. “I give the promoters a lot of credit for bringing the big fights together. You always used to hear that one fighter was a Showtime fighter and the other was an HBO fighter and they would never battle each other.

“Over the past two years, however, they did fight each other. There were so many great matchups, that now I guess they’ve been done. We’ll see a break and then hopefully it gets going again.”

The matchups were huge. Oscar De La Hoya fought a number of times. Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe christened Planet Hollywood’s casino. Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik staged their second fight. Manny Pacquiao became fighter of the year by throttling De La Hoya in December. Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto staged Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year in July.

In these cases, all roads led to Vegas. Now, the sport must replenish its talent pool. And it will.

While major battles abate, the area still sports attractions. On February 14, Roy Englebrecht brings a boxing/mixed martial arts combination to Buffalo Bill’s in Primm. The Southern California-based promoter has been able to prosper without major television exposure. Placing two combat sports on the same card illustrates an attempt to grow both industries.

BOXING CHESS PIECES

Nevada’s first 2009 mega-headliner was tabbed for May 2, involving Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, but a separate prop bet should exist to monitor it. The road was rocky. If nothing else, the event demonstrates the power of money, jockeying and potential bluffing. The fight was first pegged for London’s Wembley Stadium, then the Philippines and finally Las Vegas. Promoter Bob Arum helped start a local bidding war between MGM and Planet Hollywood by hinting the fight would end up in Dubai.

Neither property sought to be upstaged, so they announced their intentions to pursue it. This occurred despite the fact that Dubai hasn’t been friendly to foreign-based boxing promoters. Yes, the city will host an event, but no, the subsidy expected from the rich area never has never materialized. Promoters have gone to Dubai and essentially waged four-wall deals.

Would this have been the event that changed the trend? Las Vegas properties did not want to find out. MGM thus emerged as the front-runner.

The verbal jousting extends to the fighters. Pacquiao, on the basis of his De La Hoya triumph, sought 60 percent of the purse money. Hatton’s camp balked, creating a potentially acrimonious negotiation. At one point, the Philippines media said the fight was off. But everyone kept talking.

The soap opera could go back and forth, but it indicates how uncertain the economy is, that Pacquiao and Hatton feel financially flush and that too many negotiatiors often spoil the pot. Stay tuned to see how this plays out.

OTHER SPECTACLES

Las Vegas has become an NBA stronghold with its summer series and the All-Star game. Now it showcases the forerunners of modern-day hoops.

Think of showmanship, choreography, great athletic skills and comedy. The package represents the famed Harlem Globetrotters, who invade the Orleans Arena February 11.   In their 82-year-run, the Ambassadors of Goodwill have entertained everyone from presidents to popes. They have played more than 25,000 games. Among their fans was Soviet head Nikita Khrushchev.

Well here they come, into Las Vegas, with their blend of stunts. The Globetrotters represent terrific family entertainment and even have enough natural skills to please basketball purists. One of their early    players famed center Wilt Chamberlain, who later became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (and is now fourth).

Michael Wilson made the Guinness Book of Records with the most spectacular slam dunk. The Globetrotters were also instrumental in the NBA development of the slam dunk and fast-break offense.

READY, SET, RACE

Las Vegas Motor Speedway becomes a fan’s dream during the final week of February.

The USAC National Sprint Series and the World of Outlaw Series launches the festivities February 26 and 27. Then comes pole day for the Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition on the 27th, the Sam’s Town 300 February 28 and the Shelby Sprint on March 1.

For the diehards, weekend racing at 1:30 p.m. both days presents 200 laps via the Sam’s Town Race and 285 with the Shelby Sprint. 

Besides the normal hoopla, the weekend includes the 11th annual NASCAR Drivers Auction, held at Sam’s Town on the 26th. This year’s event will feature the circuit’s hottest drivers and an appearance by TV and film personality Mickey Jones.

The auction enables fans to mingle with their favorite drivers and contribute to the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, which has raised more than $1 million for needy children.

By Dave Bontempo

Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.