A HISTORIC VIEW OF DE LA HOYA-TRINIDAD.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

It's all but set. Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, two of the best fighters in the world, will meet in the ring Sept. 18 in Las Vegas in a bout reminiscent of the Leonard-Hearns-Duran-Hagler days.

Bob Arum, De La Hoya's promoter, called this ``the biggest non-heavyweight fight since Leonard-Hagler'' in 1987.

Is it?

Certainly this long-awaited welterweight title-unification event is monumental by today's standards. It might be the most compelling lower-division matchup possible.

However, how does it compare in terms of significance to the biggest bouts involving the four legends mentioned above, whose name recognition and popularity were built on free television?

Here's what De La Hoya-Trinidad has working for it and against it.

FOR IT

De La Hoya and Trinidad both carry the marketable mystique of perfect records. It's impossible to imagine either losing, which provides the kind of intrigue that translates into dollars.

None of the bouts involving their illustrious predecessors pitted two undefeated champions against one another.

De La Hoya is, without question, the most popular non-heavyweight fighter in the world. He and his advisers have carefully built a movie star-like image and a fortune in the seven years since he won an Olympic gold medal.

He's one of the few boxers who could fight anyone and create a stir.

Anticipation for the bout has built steadily for several years. There are a lot of people out there dying to watch De La Hoya build upon his legend or fall flat on his face.

This is an era when the best often avoid fighting the best: Unfortunately, a loss is perceived as devastating in terms of earning power. That means De La Hoya and Trinidad are gambling, which is exactly how it should be.

AGAINST IT

Trinidad. Yes, he's a fine - albeit relatively untested - fighter. However, few outside Puerto Rico and the boxing community know much about him. He might be compared to Roberto Duran, a Panamanian who burst upon the American consciousness when he outpointed a then-undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.

However, Leonard, Hearns and Hagler - who had the advantage of fighting on free television - had built considerable followings before they met one another.

Each was a star in his own way: Leonard the darling of America; Hearns a vicious knockout artist; Hagler a complete, seemingly unbeatable force; and Duran a legend.

De La Hoya. Again, he's big. At the same time, he's no Leonard, who - once again - had the advantage of free television. In 1976, when Leonard won his gold medal, boxing was a featured event in Olympic coverage. Thus, he became a hero overnight in many segments of society and then built upon that popularity as a pro on free TV.

This isn't so for De La Hoya, whose path to Olympic gold received limited focus and whose biggest fights have been broadcast only on pay-per-view TV, which limits viewers.

De La Hoya's popularity is tremendous among boxing-crazy Latinos but not Leonard-like among others.

The perfect records are the result - at least in part - of the fighters' competition.

De La Hoya has come a long way. His competition, once questioned, has been improved. Most significantly, he outpointed both Pernell Whitaker and Ike Quartey. Trinidad's best opponent? Oba Carr. His only other notable foe was Whitaker, who was 35 and had deteriorated since he met De La Hoya.

Leonard and Co. had much more impressive resumes.

BOTTOM LINE

This bout doesn't rival the days of Leonard-Hearns-Duran-Hagler. It couldn't. De La Hoya and Trinidad don't have the history their predecessors did at the same time of their careers.

However, it doesn't get any better than this today. And who knows: It could be the start of a series of bouts about which fight fans will be talking 20 years from now.

Fight on: Todd duBoef, an executive with Top Rank, the firm that promotes De La Hoya, said a report that the Sept. 18 bout is up in the air because De La Hoya is demanding $30 million is untrue.

Robert Alcazar, De La Hoya's trainer, was quoted in a Puerto Rican newspaper as saying his fighter would not agree to the roughly $15 million he's expected to make.

``The fight is on no matter what anybody says,'' said duBoef, who asked De La Hoya on Saturday whether there was any truth to the report.

``(De La Hoya said) absolutely not. We're ready to go. Everything is fine.' ''

The parties are scheduled to meet this week to work out final details, duBoef said.

Foreman-Tyson?: Shelly Finkel, Mike Tyson's adviser, dismissed talk of a George Foreman-Tyson bout as just that - talk.

Ron Weathers, a Foreman adviser, wants to put together a bout that would pay Tyson $25 million and Foreman $20 million.

However, Finkel said Weathers has tried to make the fight for years and is no closer now than he ever was.

Finkel said he has repeatedly told Weathers to have Foreman contact him to prove the boxing legend is interested and actively involved in the project. Weathers agreed but, alas, Finkel has yet to hear from Foreman.

Plus, there are many obstacles. For example, Showtime has expressed interest in the bout even though Bob Arum and HBO - Showtime's rival - have contractual rights to a Foreman-Tyson bout. See the problem?

Still, Finkel didn't discount the possibility that the two heavyweights might meet one day but said, for now, ``It's fantasy.''

Holyfield-Lewis: Negotiations for a second bout between heavyweight champions Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in November are moving slowly.

The main problem is this: HBO, which has the television rights, doesn't want Don King to play an active role in the promotion.

Why? King is being investigated for corruption following the controversial first Holyfield-Lewis bout. The network fears King will be indicted for fixing the first fight during the promotion for the rematch.

Can you blame HBO?

Those close to negotiations say Holyfield and Lewis want the fight badly and expect it to be made in spite of the problems.

Jones-Johnson: Pity Roy Jones Jr.

Clearly, the guy is the most complete fighter in the world. He proved it again by dominating Reggie Johnson in a title-unification bout Saturday.

However, no one in or around his weight class has any reasonable chance of beating him. He might retire one day without a signature victory, which would be a shame for a fighter of his ability.

Worse yet, he might fight Evander Holyfield. It's an interesting prospect but most likely an impossible task. If he gets caught once, he could be finished. And, remember, Holyfield has a great chin; Jones could never hurt him.

Reid watch: David Reid vs. Kevin Kelly?

Not that Kevin Kelly, who spells his name Kelley. This Kelly (23-5-3, 10 KOs) is from Australia and has absolutely no chance of dethroning the unbeaten WBA world welterweight champion when they meet July 16 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Reid (12-0, seven KOs) has fought opponents with a combined record of 310-45-5, 212 KOs) at the time of the fights, according to America Presents, Reid's promotional company.