Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 16, 1995

His match against John John Molina on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is supposed to be the toughest of unbeaten Oscar De La Hoya’s blossoming professional career. . . .

De La Hoya disagrees. . . .

“I think it will be an easy fight,” he said before breaking camp at Big Bear on Wednesday morning. “My trainer (Robert Alcazar) and I are looking for a knockout in about the fifth round.” . . .

Conditioning has always been a plus for the World Boxing Organization lightweight champion, but he says he has never been in quite this kind of shape. . . .

“I’ve been working hard in the mountains for seven weeks, and I feel terrific,” he said. “I’m getting stronger.” . . .

Molina has a 36-3 record that includes 26 knockout victories, owns the International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight title and hasn’t been beaten in nearly five years, but he doesn’t look imposing to De La Hoya on the tapes. . . .

“He has no defense whatsoever,” De La Hoya said. “He charges in face first and with his hands down. He doesn’t throw straight punches. He lunges.” . . .

If De La Hoya stretches his victory streak to 17 as expected, he will face Rafael Ruelas on May 6 in a natural between charismatic young champions from East L.A. and Sylmar. . . .

“Sorry, but I’ve made sure that John John’s calendar is clear for May 6,” said Molina’s manager, Lou Duva. “He’s the one who’s going to be fighting Ruelas.” . . .

*

Recommended viewing: Tonight’s basketball doubleheader on ESPN, USC-Arizona at 6:30 and UCLA-Arizona State at 9. . . .

UCLA Coach Jim Harrick on the Arizona schools, who trail the Bruins by one game in the Pacific 10 Conference: “They’re like cats in the corner with their fur sticking up.” . . .

Among those seeking redemption against the Bruins will be Arizona State’s Mario Bennett, who was four for 11 from the field in their first meeting, and Arizona’s Damon Stoudamire, who was six for 21. . . .

Harrick will be honored as the American Youth Awards’ man of the year and John Wooden as the humanitarian of the year at a charity dinner April 30 at the Century Plaza hotel. . . .

Connecticut deserves its No. 1 ranking in men’s college basketball, but consider yourself a knowledgeable fan if you can name one player on the team. . . .

The most highly publicized athlete at the university, Rebecca Lobo, plays for the Huskies’ other top-ranked basketball team. . . .

The USC women are outshooting the men, 45% to 43%. . . .

As part of the “Clubs for Kids” program, anyone who donates a new or used golf club will be admitted free to the Nissan Open celebrity-am Sunday and the pro-am next Wednesday at Riviera Country Club. . . .

At No. 7, Fred Couples is the highest-ranked American in the world golf rankings sanctioned by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. . . .

John Cabrera, who made matches for Top Rank Inc. and the Irvine Marriott and was long a popular boxing figure in Southern California, died last week of cancer at 62. . . .

Axel Schulz, who will challenge George Foreman on April 22, was 4 years old when Foreman won the heavyweight title the first time in 1973. . . .

The ID on an Associated Press story reporting that heavyweight Jimmy Thunder will substitute for Joe Hipp in a bout against Trevor Berbick was “Hipp Replacement.” . . .

Al Goldfarb will retire as director of public relations for the L.A. City Recreation and Parks Department next month after a successful 32-year stint. . . .

The American Youth Soccer Organization, which was founded 30 years ago in Torrance and now has programs in 45 states, registered more than 500,000 participants this year. . . .

The Jacksonville Jaguars should beat the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame game July 29 at Canton, Ohio. . . .

It must have been glowing references from Al Davis and Buddy Ryan that convinced Jacksonville to make Steve Beuerlein the first pick in the expansion draft. . . .

Steve DeBerg, whose smarts were responsible for a long NFL career, ought to be a great tutor for young New York Giant quarterback Dave Brown. . . .

If I were an L.A. Coliseum official, I would be much more concerned about keeping the Raiders than luring a United Baseball League franchise for 1996.