De La Hoya Outclassed Chavez After Fight Too

OK, boxing aficionados, who do you worship now? . . .

The rising young superstar who fought brilliantly Friday night and then praised his opponent or the badly beaten former champion who made excuses and refused to give his conqueror any credit? . . .

Thumbs up to Oscar De La Hoya and thumbs down to Julio Cesar Chavez. . . .

Before De La Hoya entered the interview room at Caesars Palace and while Chavez was being taken to the hospital, the drums already were beating for a possible future De La Hoya fight. . . .

Promoter Bob Arum introduced Miguel Angel Gonzalez and described him as a “real good fighter.” . . .

He might be, but it will take something more than that to defeat De La Hoya. . . .

In five of his last six fights, he has beaten opponents who were world champions at the time or former champions--John John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, James Leija and Chavez. . . .

Only Molina was able to last the distance. . . .

De La Hoya, 23, will do anything to achieve greatness. . . .

He is as conscientious a worker in the gym as I have seen in more than 30 years covering boxing. . . .

He is improving with every test, some of the credit belonging to the professor, Jesus Rivero, who has turned his pupil into a better defender and designed expert game plans. . . .

De La Hoya was not awed by his idol, Chavez, nor did he take him lightly. . . .

The newly crowned World Boxing Council 140-pound champion fought with precision, coolness, confidence, and intelligence. . . .

He didn’t get over-excited when the blood began pouring from Chavez’ left eye in the first round. . . .

On the other hand, Chavez didn’t fight with the passion you might expect from a proud warrior who knows that he is in big trouble, such as the bloodied Marvelous Marvin Hagler the night he knocked out Thomas Hearns. . . .

Chavez landed a couple of heavy left hooks early in the fourth round, but De La Hoya shrugged them off and took control again. . . .

It was a remarkable performance for someone participating in only his 22nd professional fight. . . .

He is the best fighter to come along since Sugar Ray Leonard. . . .

There was hardly a dry eye in the house Saturday night at Dodger Stadium when Brett Butler stood in Fred Claire’s booth next to the press box and waved to the cheering crowd. . . .

Imagine what it will be like in September when Butler steps to the plate. . . .

On a day when Hideo Nomo, the pitcher, finished first at Dodger Stadium, Nomo, the horse, finished second in the second race at Hollywood Park. . . .

Dodger and Angel pitchers combined for three hits Sunday, Nomo getting two doubles against Cincinnati and Ryan Hancock a single against Cleveland. . . .

With an outfield of Eric Owens in left, Curtis Goodwin in center, and Chad Mottola in right, could those possibly have been the Reds? . . .

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I guarantee you there will not be a more dramatic finish all season than Warren Morris’ two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning that gave LSU the 50th anniversary College World Series championship over Miami, 9-8. . . .

Is Barry Bonds ever going to hit another homer? . . .

The best-kept secret in baseball is the Chicago White Sox, who share the best record in the American League and have won 18 of their last 21 games, but aren’t big news even in their hometown during Bullmania. . . .

Last year, Marques Johnson was the radio analyst for UCLA’s NCAA basketball championship team. This year, he is the analyst for the NBA Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics. . . .

The biggest difference between the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers is quickness. . . .

That five different horses have won seven Triple Crown races for Wayne Lukas the last three years tells you something about his ability as a trainer. . . .

Editor’s Note’s substitute jockey, Rene Douglas, and regular jockey, Gary Stevens, both did outstanding jobs Saturday at Belmont Park, Douglas on the horse and Stevens in the ABC broadcasting booth alongside Al Michaels. . . .

If you know who is going to be voted the Eclipse Award for best 3-year-old colt, please clue me in. . . .

Los Angeles, which doesn’t have an NFL team, should thank Donald Sterling for keeping it the only city with two NBA teams.