"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell received the loudest boos during pre-fight introductions.

Earlier, in the VIP area, I asked Cowell, who doesn't pull any punches on "Idol," whether he was a boxing fan.

"I love boxing," he said. He took up the sport during his teen years in England.

"I was a boxer until I got vain," he said.

A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

Give Calzaghe's fans points for being better behaved than the hooligan element that booed and whistled during the U.S. national anthem at the Ricky Hatton-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in December at the MGM Grand.

Given the hard feelings, there was some question whether Tom Jones, who sang the British national anthem for Hatton, would be booed by American fight fans when he sang the Welsh national anthem Saturday.

An hour before the fight, I asked Jones about the December incident. "That was bad news," Jones said.

But it was immediately clear that U.S. fans weren't holding a grudge against Jones. The Welsh superstar received the loudest cheers during the introductions.

When it was time for the U.S. anthem, performed by R&B crooner Ray J, Brandy's little brother, Calzaghe's backers displayed none of the disrespect that came from Hatton's following.

British fans will tell you that incident was fueled by the disrespect Mayweather directed at Hatton.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Mike Tyson, who now lives in suburban Henderson, told me he's revisiting the idea of putting together a tour of exhibition fights in Europe.

"I'm considering that," said the ex-champ, who appears to have put on 15 to 20 pounds since he retired.

SIGHTINGS

Camera-shy Whitney Houston, at the fight with daughter Bobbi Kristina, 15. ... At 40/40 Club (Palazzo) on Saturday: Newlyweds Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles, hosting a party at 40/40 Club (Palazzo) on Saturday. ... Actress Carmen Electra and University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, at Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace) on Saturday. ... At Tao Las Vegas (The Venetian) on Saturday: Mary J. Blige, Chris Tucker, Jeremy Piven, Dwyane Wade, and Kristen Cavallari. ... At Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce nightclub (Mandalay Bay) on Saturday: Broadway icon Ben Vereen, Phil Hellmuth, Scott Ian, Lars Ulrich, and Wayne Brady. ... At Strip House restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday: Calzaghe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tom Jones, Bruce Willis, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Cowell. ... Willie McGinist, at Blush (Wynn).

THE PUNCH LINE

"That's not a particularly big earthquake; for us in L.A., a 5.2 is like when Nicole Richie's stomach growls." -- Jimmy Kimmel, on the earthquake that rattled the Midwest.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.