BY THE NUMBERS: Of the more than...

BY THE NUMBERS: Of the more than 40,000 active professional boxers worldwide, fewer than two dozen reside or train in the San Fernando Valley. . . . The Ruelas brothers from Sylmar are the most famous local pugilists. Gabriel, 24, earlier this month retained his World Boxing Council super featherweight title in a bout at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. On the same card, Rafael, 24, lost his International Boxing Federation lightweight crown.

BELT WINNERS: Bobby Chacon of San Fernando, who won the WBC featherweight title in 1974 and the WBC junior lightweight crown in 1982, was the first of only four world champions who have called the Valley home. The other three--the Ruelas brothers and Michael Nunn--are trained by Joe Goossen, a man who never boxed professionally.

LEARNING THE ROPES: Carlos Navarro, who has been training in Van Nuys with Gabriel Ruelas, is the USA Amateur Boxing Federation’s top-ranked prospect in the 119-pound class. He already is a Golden Gloves, Olympic Festival and Pan American Games champ. . . . Lance Whitaker, above, a 6-foot-7 former San Fernando High basketball player, is another potential member of the U. S. Olympic team in 1996.

FIGHT FAMILY: The Goossens are the first family of Valley boxing. . . . Of 10 Goossen siblings, eight are brothers and six of them have at least some tie to the Sweet Science. Joe, Pat and Greg are trainers. Larry runs a training camp in Big Bear, Dan is vice president and promoter Bob Arum’s right-hand man with Top Rank Inc., and Mike, an attorney, might soon be promoting bouts at a Woodland Hills hotel.

WALTZING PROHIBITED: The Grand Ballroom at the Warner Center Marriott hotel is the only boxing venue on the Valley floor to regularly host professional shows. Crowds as large as 1,000 come to see bouts between club fighters, many of whom have never been or never will be ranked contenders. . . . Fans don’t seem to mind. They pay top dollar--$25 to $100 a ticket. As for the boxers, some make as little as $100 per round.