BIG VICTORY LIFTS BARRERA TO NEW LEVEL.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

LAS VEGAS - Naseem Hamed entered the ring in a typically spectacular manner but with less-than-expected substance Saturday. Marco Antonio Barrera entered with a brilliant fight plan and pulled it off beautifully.

In the end, it was one of the more remarkable performances in recent years and one that catapults Barrera to a new level of respect.

Barrera, normally a very aggressive fighter, decided to box carefully to limit the chances he would be hurt by one of the sport's biggest punchers. The result was a tactical fight but a one-sided victory over a previously unbeaten opponent.

Barrera not only beat Hamed - 35-0, with 31 knockouts entering the fight - he beat him convincingly: 115-112, 116-111 and 115-112 on the judges' scorecards.

A perfect blend of boxing and calculated aggression rendered one of the world's most highly regarded fighters - and a 3-1 favorite - confused and overwhelmed when most observers expected the exact opposite.

As a result, it was a monumental victory. Let's put it in perspective.

One, Hamed was considered by many to be too strong for any featherweight. Some believed Barrera was particularly vulnerable because he moved up in weight for the fight Saturday and had been hurt in previous fights.

Two, it's often difficult to imagine an undefeated fighter losing. That certainly would apply in this case: Hamed was one of the sport's dominating figures, even if his resume was somewhat suspect.

Three, Barrera's career was in serious jeopardy when he lost twice to Junior Jones, in 1996 and 1997. His days as a top-level contender seemed to be behind him at 23.

And, four, many wondered how much his taxing brawl with countryman Erik Morales in February of last year - a controversial loss - took out of him.

On paper, it seemed to add up to a one-sided victory for Hamed. However, on the ring canvas, Barrera showed that a perfect fight plan, the ability to execute it and a remarkable amount of grit can defy logic.

Where does that leave Barrera?

Perhaps most important, he's in a position to make a lot of money. He earned $1.9 million Saturday but could make as much as twice that in a rematch with either Hamed or Morales.

And he probably just landed directly below the big four in the pound-for-pound rankings. Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have a lock on the top four spots but Barrera isn't too far behind.

--Class act: Those who have spent any time with Hamed know he's a classy guy. Now, after the manner in which he handled his loss, everyone knows it.

Hamed made no excuses, with the possible exception of saying he put too much emphasis on seeking a knockout. Instead, he repeatedly said it was simply Barrera's day.

A typical postfight comment: ``He won the fight clearly in my eyes. I didn't box to the best of my ability. I'll be back. What can I say?''

--Foolish? In a sense, Hamed looked foolish after the fight.

He entered the ring as if he were sent from heaven - he was standing amid fireworks at the upper level of the arena when the crowd got its first glimpse of him and he was lowered to the floor on a swing-like device - only to be outclassed in the ring.

However, consider his payday - $6 million - and he doesn't look like such a fool.

--Punch stats: Barrera outlanded Hamed in total punches 230 (of 537) to 141 (of 390).

He also landed more jabs, 101 (of 274) to 72 (of 223), and power punches 129 (of 263) to 69 (of 167).

--Replay: HBO is replaying the Barrera-Hamed fight at 7 p.m. Saturday.

--Staples card: Roy Jones Jr. and Staples Center are nearing a deal for a July 28 card at the downtown arena.

Jones, the undisputed light heavyweight champion some believe is the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world, would face entertaining, but relative unknown Julio Gonzalez of Huntington Beach.

Also, WBC featherweight titleholder Erik Morales would take on No. 1 contender Injin Chi of Korea, and WBA featherweight champ Derrick Gainer would defend against Juan Manuel Marquez.

It's a curious decision on Staples' part. Officials there, who meet today with promoter Bob Arum to work out details, said they wanted to stage big fights. Jones is a big fighter but this isn't a big fight.

Still, they likely will piece together a decent crowd. Jones' star power will put some people in the seats; Morales and Marquez will bring in Mexican fans; and Chi - the most overrated featherweight in the world, according to The Ring magazine - probably will bring people in from the Korean community.

--Lewis-Rahman: Lennox Lewis defends his heavyweight championship against Hasim Rahman on April 21 just outside Johannesburg, South Africa, at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.

Rahman has been there for almost two weeks, acclimating to the time difference and altitude.

Lewis has been working out the past five weeks in a Las Vegas gym and took a few days out to shoot a film at the MGM Grand. He does a fight scene in the remake of ``Oceans 11,'' starring Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Could Lewis be asking for trouble with his approach to the fight?

Nah. Rahman is a solid heavyweight but not in Lewis' class - even a distracted Lewis.

Rahman was stopped by both David Tua and Oleg Maskaev and has yet to beat a truly talented heavyweight.

Of course, Lewis insists his mind has been on Rahman. He deflected many questions about a possible matchup with Mike Tyson and then steered them back to Rahman.

``I have to beat him before I can think about Mike Tyson,'' he said at a press conference before the Hamed-Barrera fight.

Lewis, who left Sunday (13 days before the fight) for South Africa, also said he's not concerned about the altitude.

``I've boxed at altitude many times,'' he said. ``... I've trained at Big Bear (in California). I know what it is to fight at altitude.''

--Mandela connection: One reason Lewis chose to fight in South Africa was his relationship with former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The two have spoken many times and Lewis admires Mandela.

``It was my idea,'' Lewis said. ``I want to fight all over the world. I told Nelson Mandela I wanted to fight in South Africa and ... it just happens that now's the right time.

``... He's a great person. He's a genuine, loving person who loves life and loves his people. He spreads good karma.''

--Funny man: Rahman, connected to the press conference by satellite, was loose.

Referring to Lewis' acting endeavor, Rahman said: ``I'll see if I can free up more time for him so he can act on a full-time basis.''

--To be fair: In the end, a representative of Oscar De La Hoya did place a call to Bob Arum's office, an apparent attempt to reach the promoter to apologize for an ethnic slur the fighter used in reference to Arum.

However, Arum was out of town at the time and neither De La Hoya nor anyone connected with him followed up to make a personal apology.

You be the judge as to whether De La Hoya truly wanted to say he's sorry.

--Coming up: Robbie Peden faces Hector Velasquez in a 12-round featherweight bout on Sunday in Elgin, Ill., on FOX. ...

IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins faces WBC titleholder Keith Holmes on Saturday in New York on HBO.

The winner will face the winner of next month's bout between Felix Trinidad and WBA middleweight champ William Joppy.

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Photo:

Marco Antonio Barrera, right, put his name among the best pound-for-pound in boxing after beating Naseem Hamed on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News