BOWE HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE : REMATCH WITH GOLOTA COULD SHOW IF HE IS AS GOOD AS HE CLAIMS.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

As recently as a year ago, Riddick Bowe was considered by many to be the best heavyweight in the world, better even than Mike Tyson.

Today, he's seen by most as a fighter who will never reach his full potential because of poor work habits.

His longtime trainer, Eddie Futch, is among those who have given up on him. Futch recently left Bowe's camp in disgust and was replaced by Thel Torrence, a protege of Futch's.

Even Bowe's own mother turned on him, saying, ``Maybe it's time to retire now?''

Is Bowe, at 29, really finished?

We'll know more when he gets back in the ring Dec. 14 with Andrew Golota, the lumbering, dirty-fighting Pole who was disqualified for low blows when the two fought in July, the bout that inspired a full-scale riot at Madison Square Garden.

Never was Bowe so lucky. Golota was beating Bowe silly when he threw away what surely would have been the biggest victory of his career. Still, Bowe looked lousy and his stock - which took a serious dip after a shaky performance in his third fight with Evander Holyfield - plummeted.

Bowe knows it and promises to make amends.

``I want to correct everything,'' he said. ``I want people to say `Riddick Bowe is the best heavyweight in the world' again. . . . I'll beat (Golota) like I should have the first time.''

Bowe was ready with excuses when asked to explain his performance in July.

He wasn't in shape, he said. No one would argue that point. He weighed a career-high 252 pounds, the latest evidence that Bowe refuses to dedicate himself to the sport.

Apparently, he figured he needn't be in shape. Golota was supposed to be pushover. He could take this upstart even in less-than-optimum condition, Bowe reasoned.

Boy, was he surprised.

``I underestimated him,'' Bowe said. ``I was told on several occasions that he wouldn't stand and fight. I thought he really didn't want the fight. I let my guard down. And because I did that, he was able to capitalize.

``. . . I was embarrassed, humiliated, but I can be better for it.''

Bowe swears he's learned his lesson.

He said he's approaching this fight as if it were against Holyfield, his rival in three memorable brawls.

``Golota benefited because I didn't know much about him, I never saw him fight,'' he said. ``He was an unknown. I won't say I didn't respect him but I didn't think he was a guy Riddick Bowe had to worry about. Now I know he wants to win.

``In order to beat him, I have to be at my very best.''

In the past few days, Bowe has reiterated his desire to fight Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. He should prove he truly has learned his lesson, he should beat Golota before he even mentions names like Lewis and Tyson.

Why? Say it ain't so, Ray. There's still time.

Sugar Ray Leonard, 40, made a huge mistake when he agreed to end his five-year retirement by fighting Hector Camacho in February.

The former world champion is wealthy. He's considered one of the greatest fighters of all time. And, although he was pummeled by Terry Norris in his final fight, his exit wasn't disgraceful.

A fight with Camacho, who at 34 also is a relic, would be disgraceful - if not pathetic.

Against Norris, it was clear that Leonard had lost the skills that made him a great fighter. Imagine what he'll look like now, five years later. On second thought, don't. It's too painful.

Leonard has said it's the thrill of competition that is luring him back. Resist, Ray, resist. We want to remember you as you were.

Why not? I support Tommy Morrison's decision to fight even though he has the virus that causes AIDS, particularly because a portion of the profits will go to his AIDS charity.

Morrison, like all those with the virus, deserves the right to pursue the career of his choice, even boxing, assuming someone is willing to get into the ring with him.

Tony Holden, Morrison's trainer, said more than one fighter has said he would fight Morrison. The bout could take place on the Nov. 3 George Foreman-Crawford Grimsley bout in Japan and, Morrison hopes, lead to a bigger-money fight.

One precaution must be taken, though: At the very first sign of Morrison's blood, stop the fight.

And, although someone certainly would accept the fight for the right money, I wonder if it will be more difficult to find a willing referee and to get people to sit at ringside.

Rabbit punches: Tickets for the Nov. 9 Tyson-Holyfield card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas reportedly are sold out. . . .

Henry Maske, the undefeated International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion from Germany, has shied away from credible opposition while making a fortune in Europe.

Finally, he's shown some fortitude, agreeing to fight longtime World Boxing Association champion Virgil Hill, albeit in Munich. The 32-year-olds will face off on Nov. 23.

Unfortunately, it will be difficult for Hill to win a decision in Maske's backyard and he's not a big puncher. . . .

Larry Holmes, 47, is fighting a Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen. Does anybody care? Does Holmes care that nobody cares? . . .

Tim Witherspoon will fight Ray Mercer on the Bowe-Golota undercard.

Could you ask for a better preliminary bout? Witherspoon, at 38, has re-emerged as one of the best heavyweights in the world and Mercer is always entertaining.

COMING UP

Friday: Marcelo Dominguez of Argentina defends his WBC cruiserweight title against Ezequiel Paixao of Brazil in Buenos Aires.

On ESPN2, Aaron Davis takes on Tony Marshall in a 12-round junior middleweight bout in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Also on the card, James ``Buddy'' McGirt, only 32 but faded, faces Kevin Tillman in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Oct. 28: Vince Phillips takes on Victor Perez in a 10-round welterweight bout at the Forum. Also, Bolillo Gonzalez faces Mark Lewis in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

MEMO: Staff Writer Michael Rosenthal's boxing column appears Mondays in the Daily News.

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