So how receptive are fight fans in...

So how receptive are fight fans in Philadelphia to tonight’s heavyweight match between Mike Tyson and Buster Mathis Jr. at the Spectrum?

Let’s put it this way. If Tyson were matched against the statue of movie character Rocky Balboa outside the arena, ticket sales might not be going any more slowly.

In the minds of most fans, Mathis is only marginally faster than that statue. And he certainly doesn’t have as strong a jaw.

Besides, although the fight is blacked out in the Philadelphia area, it’s still available on free television in neighboring regions. And for many, a long drive seems preferable to spending $25 to $500 to watch Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, get another tuneup before he steps into the ring against a bona fide fighter. If Tyson (42-1, 36 knockouts) wants a tuneup, say those who have turned thumbs down on this fight, he ought to stay in the gym.

As of Friday, fewer than 7,000 seats had been sold.

Philadelphians are not to be singled out for their indifference. This is a fight nobody wanted.

Not the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which has a six-fight deal with Tyson. Officially, this fight was not held at the MGM Grand at the beginning of November as originally scheduled because Tyson had a broken thumb. But ticket sales there were also sluggish, and MGM officials didn’t complain when an alternate site was suggested.

The officials at the alternate site certainly did complain. Promoter Don King tried to hold the fight in Atlantic City but was denied by New Jersey officials who refuse to do business with King while he is under indictment for insurance fraud. King’s first trial ended in a mistrial, but there are plans for a second one.

So King turned to Philadelphia and tried to put a show together in two weeks.

In the first Rocky movie, the idea of champion Apollo Creed fighting a journeyman like Balboa is appealing because the fight is staged on Independence Day in Philadelphia and billed as a way to achieve the American dream.

Tonight’s fight might have trouble drawing a crowd if it were held in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

Part of the problem is the bad taste left in the mouths of fight fans who shelled out money for Tyson’s first ring appearance after three years in prison for rape.

Peter McNeeley lasted 89 seconds against Tyson last summer and seems better suited for his current job, which is acting in pizza commercials.

Mathis, 25, is a more credible opponent. He is 20-0 with six knockouts. But Mathis appeared out of shape at Thursday’s weigh-in, coming in at 224 pounds.

When a fighter refuses to take off his shirt for photographers, as Mathis did Thursday, it’s obvious he has something to hide.

Tyson came in at a solid 219. There is no question his years in prison have not left him flabby at age 29.

Tyson says his biggest problem is not getting back into the ring, but just getting back into society after being behind bars.

“It’s like graduating from college cum laude,” he said, “and now you’re faced with going back into the real world. I’m back to civilized life and it’s difficult. I know I’m not back 100%.”

McNeeley didn’t really provide any indication of how far back Tyson has come. The hope in Tyson’s camp is that Mathis will stay around long enough to let Tyson show where he is.

Remember, the only guy to beat Tyson was also not one to take his shirt off in public.

And he, too, was named Buster.

As in Douglas.

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Boxing Notes

The semi-main event is a unification bout between World Boxing Council super-welterweight champion Terry Norris (40-6, 25 knockouts) and International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight champion Paul Vaden (24-0, 12 knockouts).