Rayco Saunders has a sense of fistic history here.

He knows tonight's boxing card at Heinz Field, featuring his bout for a championship belt with a lesser-known organization, is the first title fight in the uncovered outdoors of Pittsburgh since 1951. Since Ezzard Charles-Jersey Joe Walcott. Since the Rooneys made a boxing venue of Forbes Field.

"I know the participants. I know it was 53 years ago. And I know the Rooneys handled the fight," said Saunders, a Beltzhoover boxer scheduled to face New Orleans' James Walton for the North American Boxing Council's cruiserweight belt in a card starting at 7:30 p.m. at Heinz Field, another Rooney venue.

Granted, Paul Spadafora three years ago defended his lightweight title at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre. Golden Gloves amateur state titles were at stake barely four months ago in Heinz Field's Coca-Cola Great Hall. Yet each of those fights had a roof overhead. Each of those fights had no such distraction as a giant Jumbotron behind them.

When filming a commercial for this card about a month ago, in the ring on the patio, Saunders saw his image displayed above him on the Jumbotron.

"I would love to sit back and watch one of my fights up there," he said of the North Shore home theater that seats 65,000.

But what if a boxer tried to steal a glance of himself up on the big screen? "You get into a whole lot of trouble if you do that. A whole lot."

The weather remained the chief concern for most of the boxers.

"I hope it doesn't rain," said Rob Strauss of Carnegie. "I'm excited. Going to be on the Jumbotron. Some of the Steelers coming down to see it."

Mario Acosta of North Braddock, making his pro debut along with sparring partner Jose Caraballo of McKees Rocks, participated in the Great Hall card four months ago. Of the cool night air, he said, "If you don't think about it, it's not too bad."

His foe, LeShaun Blair of Knoxville, Tenn., showed for the weigh-in last night, but the problem du jour was lining up able opponents. Promoter Jimmy Cvetic said this card had up to 40 changes, including four or five yesterday. One foe was detained by police -- something about "dispensing pharmaceuticals," Cvetic said. "Of course, I agree with that, being that I was a narcotics officer [for Allegheny County]."

The scheduled opponent for Jim Northey of Punxsutawney was Knowledge Bey, who Cvetic said became unavailable when a Syracuse, N.Y., judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail because of missed child support.

"I didn't expect all this," he said of the matchmaking difficulty.

One match without fail pits two area boxers who were poised to battle in a Toughman event in September. Scott Shipley lost in the semifinals, Scott Kelly won the final, and tonight the friends collide. "When we're in the ring, it's all business," said Shipley, of Penn Hills. "After, we'll go get a beer and talk about it."

Ray Narh and Joe Wyatt also are set to stage an exhibition. Yet the headline is Saunders-Walton for the NABC belt. "It's not going to be hot," Saunders said about the great outdoors. "So as far as fatigue, that won't be a factor. Me and James could fight all night."

Tickets, costing $50, $30 and $20, are available at Ticketmaster outlets and at the gates.