By Kevin Iole
Yahoo! Sports

LAS VEGAS - You've heard the flight attendant say it on every airplane trip you've been on: "We've started our gradual descent."

And, some might say, so, too, did Manny Pacquiao's career begin its gradual descent in 2007. The Filipino superstar is a solid No. 2 in the Yahoo! Sports poll of the world's finest boxers, but 2007 certainly wasn't his best year.

Pacquiao was unbeaten in both of his fights in 2007, knocking out Jorge Solis in the eighth round in April and then scoring a unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in October. But he was hardly the destructive force he had been in 2006, when he went 3-0, knocked out Erik Morales twice and was named the Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

For the previous five years, he'd seemed super human, but in 2007, he seemed like just another good fighter.

Was 2007 simply the start of the gradual descent of a superstar's career, perhaps? It usually happens earlier to fighters who share his aggressive, attacking style.

The question will be answered, Pacquiao says, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center after his bout with Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC super featherweight title.

"This fight, I'm ready for this one like I haven't been for a long time," Pacquiao said. "I want to give a good fight."

He thinks for a second, beams and then corrects himself.

"I want to give a great fight," Pacquiao said. "I'm going to give the people a great show."

Pacquiao and Marquez put on a spectacular show when they fought in 2004. Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in the first round and seemed on the verge of an unbelievably quick stoppage.

Marquez managed to survive and, in the eyes of many, deserved to win what was a split draw. Looking at the score total cumulatively, Marquez actually won more rounds than Pacquiao 22 to 14.

Pacquiao has been one of the game's elite performers since and has won his last six outings. Cynics, though, would say he's been matched favorably.