ARUM'S CALL ON MARK.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

Bob Arum is going to be promoting the Oscar De La Hoya-Bernard Hopkins super fight that is scheduled to be contested Sept. 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Arum, understandably, is going to pump up the event as much as possible. But his bold prediction Sunday in an interview with the Daily News made sense.

``I think there is a very good chance that pay-per-view might set all records in September, even surpassing the record 1.9 million buys for (Evander) Holyfield-(Mike) Tyson II,'' Arum said.

``I think this has a chance to go over 2 million.''

First, there is De La Hoya's unprecedented appeal. His fight with Felix Trinidad Jr. in September 1999 brought in 1.4 million pay-per-view buys, most for a nonheavyweight bout.

Then there's Hopkins, who has made a record 17 middleweight title defenses. One can also factor in the smaller guy, De La Hoya, coming up to meet the bigger guy, Hopkins, reminiscent of the Marvin Hagler-Sugar Ray Leonard middleweight title bout in 1987.

Add to all of that a long seven-month buildup to the event, and the recipe for Arum's prediction seems like a good mix.

It will begin June 5 with De La Hoya challenging WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm and Hopkins defending his WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight belts against Robert Allen on the same card.

Arum said contracts with MGM officials sealing the deals for both events probably will be signed today. Arum also said he expects Hopkins to sign Wednesday, and De La Hoya shortly thereafter.

``First, I think June 5 will do pretty well,'' Arum said. ``Both of them (De La Hoya and Hopkins) will have decent opponents. People are going to watch and really compare as they get ready for the show on Sept. 18.''

It's a show Arum expects not only will break records, but capture the public's attention.

``That Hopkins-De La Hoya fight is the biggest nonheavyweight attraction since Hagler-Leonard,'' Arum said. ``It was a different era; we did mostly closed-circuit at that time. We filled arenas and theaters all over the world.

``It was by far the biggest nonheavyweight fight of all time, not in the dollars that have been produced since, but that was back in (1987). I think this fight will exceed that.''

Arum's Top Rank Inc. offices were raided early last month by the FBI. Nothing official as to the scope of the investigation has been released, but it nonetheless has left a darker-than-usual cloud hanging over the sport.

Arum, on his attorney's advice, can't talk about the trouble his company might or might not be in. He did admit, however, that this is a perfect time for the sport to be looking forward to such a compelling fight.

``I think it is crucial,'' Arum said. ``It puts boxing back on the front burner as far as newspapers are concerned. It gives writers a really ... big event to write about.

``It matches two fighters that, as far as their performances in the ring are concerned, are really top, top fighters. This is really great for boxing. It goes from March 2 (at an L.A. news conference) to Sept. 18, a long time for people to talk about it.''

--Where does Hopkins rank? Arum was asked where Hopkins, in his mind, ranks all-time among middleweights. He has made a record number of defenses, but that doesn't necessarily make him the best 160-pounder ever.

``I'm an old fart,'' said Arum, 72. ``When you're old, you tend to believe the fighters when you were younger were better than the fighters today. Viewed through my eyes, I believe (Carlos) Monzon, Hagler and Tommy Hearns were superior to Hopkins.

``I also believe that Emile Griffith and Rodrigo Valdez were at his level or a little better. That said, Hopkins is clearly, without question, the best middleweight of our era.

``It is hard to say how he would do in a fight with Hagler or Monzon or Tommy. I still believe in my heart of hearts that those guys were better. Again, that may be a product of my age.''

Monzon previously held the record of 14 middleweight title defenses. Hopkins broke that with his 15th defense by stopping Carl Daniels in the 11th round Feb. 2, 2002.

Of course, Sugar Ray Robinson, who won titles in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, is thought of by many as the greatest fighter in history.

``I never saw Robinson fight,'' Arum said.

--Chavez-Morales: Upcoming on Saturday is the Erik Morales-Jesus Chavez super featherweight title fight at the MGM Grand.

Chavez (40-2, 28 knockouts), the champion from Austin, Texas, said he has a few things in store for Tijuana's Morales (45-1, 34 KOs), who is moving up in weight.

``I feel good and strong and I'm going to the MGM to defend my title with all my heart,'' he said last week from training camp in Texas. ``I plan to surprise a whole lot of people.''

--How about Marquez-Pacquiao? Arum said he is on the verge of completing a deal that would pit WBA and IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez against Manny Pacquiao, who on Nov. 15 stopped people's featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in the 11th round.

Arum said the fight would take place either in Las Vegas or at Home Depot Center in Carson. He said HBO and Marquez have agreed to terms. Pacquiao was due in Las Vegas on Sunday to discuss his end.

--Marco returns: Speaking of Barrera, he is expected back in the ring March 19 at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said the opponent is to be determined.

He said Barrera then would like to fight Paulie Ayala in July and then fight a rematch with Pacquiao in September.

``He wants to have a big year,'' Schaefer said of Barrera.

Hey, what about the Barrera-Pacquiao rematch on the undercard of De La Hoya-Hopkins? That would be incredible.

--Locals lose at Trials: The three local boxers who last week competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Tunica, Miss., went home with only one victory between them in the double-elimination tournament.

Victor Ortiz of Oxnard won his first bout at 132 pounds, then lost his next two. David Rodela of Oxnard lost both of his bouts at 132 pounds.

And Deon Elam of Reseda lost both of his bouts at 201 pounds.