No Long Layoff for De La Hoya : Boxing: Less than a month after his last fight, he will take on Avila at the Grand Olympic today.

Trying to establish order in a young career where flash has sometimes overshadowed substance, Oscar De La Hoya takes an important step in tailoring a blue-collar work ethic at noon today when he defends his World Boxing Organization lightweight title against Johnny Avila in a 12-round bout at the Grand Olympic Auditorium.

It will be the second bout in less than a month for De La Hoya (15-0, 14 KOs), who scored an impressive third-round knockout against Carl Griffith on Nov. 18.

De La Hoya, 21, has not strung bouts so closely together since fighting twice within a 13-day span in August of 1993.

He only took three days off after the victory against Griffith before resuming training.

“That’s what I’ve always wanted to do, fight constantly,” De La Hoya said this week. “Keep myself in shape and keep myself out of trouble. I want to go to Big Bear, train hard and get my boxing career over with.”

The Avila fight was originally scheduled for Oct. 8, but De La Hoya had to pull out because of a virus.

In the past, it was always something. Last year at this time, De La Hoya was going through a nasty divorce with his former management team. He did not fight for a four-month period from Oct. 30, 1993 to March 5, 1994.

“That’s done with,” De La Hoya said of those dark days.

It appears the De La Hoya train is securely on track, with upcoming bouts scheduled for January and February leading to a May showdown against Rafael Ruelas, the International Boxing Federation lightweight champion.

De La Hoya appears aware that his “Golden Boy” image can be counterproductive. This week he was humble at his prefight news conference, even respectful of his opponent, Avila. That was in contrast to his behavior before the Griffith fight, when De La Hoya boldly claimed his opponent would not land a punch.

“He’s a tough fighter, he’s not scared of no one,” De La Hoya said of Avila (20-1-1). “Maybe it’s been so, that some fighters have had a bit of fear going against me, but I want to fight, I want to brawl, I want to show what I have.”

Avila, a fighter raised in Palmdale but who made his name in Reno, said opponents do not appreciate being considered notches on De La Hoya’s title belt.

“Overlooking people, you can do it, and get away with it, but that comes back on you,” Avila said. “That’s being cocky, arrogant, too self-confident.”

Although they are not close, Avila and De La Hoya are relatives. “My aunt was married to Oscar’s dad,” Avila said.

Avila, 21, who has been boxing for only three years, said most opponents are psyched out by De La Hoya before they step in the ring.

“To me, he’s just another person,” Avila said. “That’s all Oscar is. He won the gold medal. I guess that’s what makes him so special.”

His strategy against De La Hoya?

“Oscar is quick, so I’m going to have to be quicker,” he said. “Oscar can punch, I’ll have to punch harder. He can box, so I’m going to have to box a little better.”

And if Avila wins?

“I’ll be fighting Ruelas,” he said.

Fight Notes

De La Hoya has donated $50,000 of his $150,000 purse to purchase about 1,000 seats today for the Boy Scouts of America. Avila’s purse is $30,000. On the undercard, 1992 Olympian Pepe Reilly (10-1-0, nine KOs) meets Antonio Ojeda (6-9, five KOs) in matchup of junior-welterweights. Reilly is trained by Robert Alcazar, who also trains De La Hoya. “Pepe has made a lot of progress,” Alcazar said. “In this fight, he’ll have an opportunity to prove to himself, and to the people in his hometown, that he’s ready to go to the next level.” . . . In a lightweight bout, Robert Garcia (17-0,13 KOs) takes on Roberto Villarreal (17-5-1, 11 KOs). The undercard begins at 11 a.m.