These Matchups Could Add Some Punch to the New Year

Oscar De La Hoya is stuck in court, Roy Jones is stuck in a talentless, boring division, Lennox Lewis is stuck with a bunch of stiffs and Mike Tyson is stuck in his usual self-destructive mode.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2001.

No reason to despair, however. Boxing is still riding the wave of renewed interest created by last month’s memorable Felix Trinidad-Fernando Vargas battle.

And with the following matchups, that wave could carry the sport through this year.

FIGHTS WE’D LOVE TO SEE IN 2001

* Lewis vs. Tyson. Yes, it could be a mismatch, with Tyson being embarrassed. Yes, Tyson could turn it into yet another farce. But what are the alternatives for a division that is suffering through its lowest ebb since the forgettable reign of Larry Holmes?

Who would pay to see Lewis fight Kirk Johnson or Chris Byrd or one of the Klitschko brothers?

Isn’t the public fed up with Tyson pounding opponents who can’t, or won’t, fight?

At 35, Lewis is at the peak of his game. If he defeats Tyson as badly as he did David Tua, who suffered from a height disadvantage--as would Tyson--Lewis’ ever-present critics will say that he beat up a washed-up ex-champion. And they might be right. But, as good as he has become, Lewis needs a victory over Tyson, the only big name left in the division, to validate his place in boxing history.

By fighting Andrew Golota in October, Tyson signaled that he is finally ready to abandon his tomato-can-of-the-month campaign and take on fighters who have a chance, at least on paper, to beat him. It’s not Tyson’s fault that Golota proved, by quitting after two rounds, that he has sunk to the tomato-can level.

Both in their mid-30s, Lewis and Tyson might not be around that much longer.

The opportunity is there now. Take it.

* Vargas vs. De La Hoya. Assuming De La Hoya gets out of the recording studio, resolves his legal battle with promoter Bob Arum and gets on with his career, this would be the biggest fight for L.A. right now.

There will be time for De La Hoya to fight Shane Mosley again. He’s not going anywhere.

A De La Hoya-Trinidad rematch is problematic because of the money and weight issues that bogged down negotiations the first time promoters tried to put it together.

But the time seems right for Vargas-De La Hoya. Vargas, despite his loss to Trinidad last month, has more appeal than ever. De La Hoya’s return to boxing is eagerly anticipated.

Weight could be a problem. De La Hoya is still at 147, Vargas at 154. They might have to meet halfway, but it would be worth it.

Loss or no loss, Vargas is cocky enough to think he can beat De La Hoya. And De La Hoya, after watching Trinidad take Vargas apart, has to figure he can whip Vargas as well, considering De La Hoya nearly beat Trinidad in their 1999 fight. And did, in the minds of many.

Vargas-De La Hoya: East Los Angeles vs. Oxnard, the reigning Latino star against the rising Latino star, two guys who don’t like each other.

One great fight.

* Trinidad vs. Mosley. Trinidad has said he’s through with the 154-pound division and plans to move up to 160, where he’d fight William Joppy and Bernard Hopkins.

Bad idea.

Trinidad’s biggest paydays would be rematches against De La Hoya and Vargas. His best fight might be against Mosley, assuming they could agree on weight, since Mosley is at 147.

It would be a tremendous fight, matching two great boxers, deceiving powerhouses, both quick of hand and sharp of mind, both undefeated.

Many fights are touted for the best pound-for-pound title. This one truly would be.

* Jones vs. Evander Holyfield. Jones keeps complaining that there is no one to fight in the light-heavyweight division.

There is a possibility he will come down in weight to face Hopkins, and perhaps Trinidad eventually.

Instead, why not go up to face Holyfield?

It would be one of the most intriguing matchups in years. Older fight fans still talk about light heavyweights like Billy Conn and Archie Moore challenging for the heavyweight crown.

Of all the name heavyweights, Holyfield would be the best for Jones. He is lighter than most at around 220, meaning Jones would give away only 20 pounds if he gained 10 himself. And most important of all for Jones, Holyfield looks like a shot fighter. Still, Holyfield is a four-time heavyweight champion who has risen to the level of competition in the past. A win over Holyfield easily would be Jones’ most memorable triumph, considering the no-names he has fought.

As for Holyfield, nobody wants to see him fight Lewis again. It’s bad enough Holyfield again is fighting John Ruiz. Except for Lewis and Tyson, Jones is the only opponent against whom Holyfield can make big money.

And perhaps resurrect his fading image.

SORROW FOR A FALLEN FOE

Featherweight Ricardo Juarez was bitter over his controversial loss to Bekzat Sattarkhanov of Kazakhstan in a gold-medal match at the 2000 Olympics.

But bitterness turned to sadness when Juarez learned this week that Sattarkhanov was killed in a New Year’s Eve car accident in Turkestan.

“I feel bad,” Juarez said, “real bad. He was a young man. Despite our match, I take nothing away from him, God bless his soul. He is a human just like all of us. I would not want that to happen to anyone.”

Juarez, who has signed with Main Events, will make his professional debut next Saturday in Connecticut.

TONIGHT

World Boxing Assn. super featherweight champion Joel Casamayor (23-0, 14 knockouts) of Cuba defends his title against former International Boxing Federation champion Robert Garcia (33-2, 24) of Oxnard at Las Vegas’ Texas Station hotel.