The Past Remains a Daunting Opponent for Chavez : Boxing: He will fight Randall tonight, but continues to talk of controversial draw against Whitaker.

By the grace of Julio Cesar Chavez and all the attention and money he still can generate, the new MGM Grand makes its first move into boxing tonight with a parade of interesting names, some mildly interesting comebacks and a few interesting matchups.

A day before the Super Bowl and a day after a local appearance by Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the same 16,000-seat arena that was christened by Barbra Streisand about a month ago, there will an 11-fight card--five of them on the TVKO pay-per-view card that begins at 6 p.m.

The main event is Chavez’s first fight in the United States since the draw against Pernell Whitaker on Sept. 10 at San Antonio.

Since then, Chavez, who will defend his World Boxing Council super-lightweight title against No. 1 contender Frankie Randall, has won two fights in Mexico and argued that the Whitaker fight has not diminished his status.

Whitaker, generally regarded to have been the better man against Chavez despite the controversial decision, has scheduled his first fight since the Chavez draw for April.

“Whitaker will be nothing without Julio Cesar Chavez,” Chavez said. “I do not need Whitaker. Whitaker doesn’t make the money I can. He can’t fill arenas. He is nobody.

“Since he fought with me, who has he fought? What has he done?”

Although Chavez repeatedly says he wants a rematch with Whitaker, there are no prospects for one.

In the main undercard bout, Felix Trinidad (22-0, 19 knockouts), the 21-year-old International Boxing Federation welterweight champion, will face former three-time champion Hector (Macho) Camacho (44-2, 21 knockouts).

Trinidad has power but struggled against journeyman Anthony Stephens in his last defense. Camacho, who says he is in the best shape of his life, is reportedly so confident that he bet $40,000 on himself at the hotel, getting 3-1 odds.

Heavyweight Donovan (Razor) Ruddock (29-4-1, 20 knockouts), famous for his two slugfests with Mike Tyson, returns to action after having been easily defeated by Lennox Lewis in London 14 months ago. Ruddock will face Anthony Wade (22-3, 5 knockouts).

Australian Troy Waters (21-3, 15 knockouts), who knocked down Terry Norris in the second round last June before losing on cuts a round later, is matched against Simon Brown (40-2, 30 knockouts), who knocked Norris out to win the WBC super-welterweight crown last Dec. 18.

The first bout on the PPV telecast is the second fight of Thomas Hearns’ most recent comeback. Hearns (51-4-1, 41 knockouts), a six-time champion, will fight at 190 pounds against Dan Ward (19-4, eight knockouts).

In the main event, although Randall (48-2-1, 48 knockouts) is a 16-1 underdog and hasn’t fought anybody remotely as good as Chavez (89-0-1, 77 knockouts), the challenger says he is ready for Chavez. Chavez will be paid $1.2 million, Randall $200,000.

“I feel like this should’ve happened a long time ago,” said Randall, 32. “The Whitaker fight showed that movement is most effective against Chavez, and I’m going to use it to my advantage.

“But Whitaker is left-handed, I’m right-handed. That fight is history.

“Everybody says, ‘You’re past your prime.’ I’m at my prime. I’m strong, can do everything a young man can do. I still bang with the best.”