BOXING NOTEBOOK: TRAINER: OSCAR STRONG AT 154.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

LAS VEGAS - That Fernando Vargas is a natural 154-pounder and Oscar De La Hoya isn't is accepted as fact by most observers. Rob Garcia, De La Hoya's physical trainer the past two years, doesn't buy that thinking even though De La Hoya began his career at 130 pounds 10 years ago.

``Oscar had to starve himself to make weight in the lower weight classes,'' said Garcia, who has worked with several fighters and the U.S. Olympic boxing team. ``... He's 5-foot-10. The natural weight for someone that tall is about 150, 160 pounds. That's the natural weight for him.

``He's grown into his frame.''

Garcia admitted Vargas might be somewhat stronger than De La Hoya, as many have suggested, but he doesn't believe it's an advantage for Vargas. He buys into the ancient boxing adage that too much muscle can be more harmful than useful.

``I worked with Vargas in 1996 on the Olympic team and he was 147 pounds,'' Garcia said. ``(Vargas) has built up his shoulders and chest, but doing that isn't beneficial for a pitcher or someone who throws a right hand.

``I won't say Oscar is as strong as Vargas, but he has plenty of strength to win.''

De La Hoya agreed.

``He might be stronger, but it doesn't matter. You win the fight here,'' he said, pointing to his brain.

--More Garcia: Garcia said don't make the mistake of underestimating De La Hoya's fitness.

Garcia, who joined the camp with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., said De La Hoya was blessed with the body of an elite athlete. For example, his lungs are larger than that of the average person, and he has a resting pulse rate of only 34.

De La Hoya is built like a world-class middle-distance runner - and, Garcia said, works like one.

``He has the body of an elite athlete, and he's worked diligently to make the most of those qualities since he was 8 years old,'' Garcia said.

--Not-so-great wall: Organizers placed a Plexiglas divider between De La Hoya and Vargas at the final news conference before the fight to avoid a physical confrontation. Vargas ignited a minor melee when he pushed De La Hoya at a media event in January.

De La Hoya, who prides himself on his good-guy image, was disgusted by the wall.

``I feel bad, I feel embarrassed,'' he said. ``It's what Vargas brings to the table. ... We're two fighters. We fight inside the ring, not outside the ring.''

--PR: Vargas one-upped De La Hoya in the public-relations department at the news conference. He and members of his camp wore caps emblazoned with the initials FDNY and NYPD in honor of those killed in last year's terrorist attack. De La Hoya had the word ``Everlast'' on his cap.

--Trinidad talk: Felix Trinidad said he's serious about his retirement but can't stay away from the sport.

The former three-division champion took part in a conference call Monday to reiterate he never will fight again and will be at the De La Hoya-Vargas fight Saturday, which makes at least one observer wonder whether he won't be back in the ring some time soon.

``He said he retired to spend more time with his family,'' said Richard Schaeffer, De La Hoya's financial adviser. ``If he wants to spend more time with his family, why is he doing conference calls? Why is he coming to the fight? I think he's coming because he wants the winner.''

Trinidad, who defeated both De La Hoya (by decision) and Vargas (by knockout), picks De La Hoya to win.

``I believe De La Hoya can win by knockout, and it's based on his quickness and that Vargas is not the same fighter as he was when he fought me,'' he said.

--Strategy: Many people believe Vargas will attack De La Hoya aggressively. De La Hoya isn't one of them.

De La Hoya believes the fact Vargas was badly hurt against both Trinidad and Wilfredo Rivera in two of his three most recent fights will play a key role in Vargas' approach to the fight.

``A guy who has a vulnerable chin is not going to come right at you and hit you. It doesn't work that way,'' De La Hoya said. ``If I have to be a warrior, though, I will be - just carefully.