CHAVEZ LOWERS PAY DEMAND, HAS TO WAIT ANYWAY : COMING UP.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal

Oscar De La Hoya is going to fight Julio Cesar Chavez again, promoter Bob Arum says. It's going to happen later than sooner, though.

Chavez, vastly overestimating his own value, asked for around $10 million for the rematch of the June 7 bout in which De La Hoya won by a fourth-round TKO.

Arum's response?

``It floored me,'' said Arum, who thought he had a tentative agreement that would have paid Chavez $5-6 million.

``He equates Mexico (where he's an icon) to the rest of the world. (The kind of interest that would warrant that kind of money) just isn't there.''

Chavez, apparently aware he doesn't have much of a choice, finally agreed to the lower figure but did so too late.

A deal to have De La Hoya fight World Boxing Council welterweight champion Pernell Whitaker in May at Caesars Palace is nearly in place, according to both Arum and Mike Boorman of Main Events, which promotes Whitaker.

Each fighter is expected to make $6-7 million.

De La Hoya, the WBC super lightweight champion, will then fight on HBO in July. David Kamau is a possible opponent, Arum said.

The Chavez fight would take place in September or October, probably in Los Angeles. Chavez will be 35 by then.

Arum said he will use the time to get Chavez a few knockout victories to build interest for the rematch. Chavez fights mediocre Mickey Ward on Dec. 6 in Reno.

De La Hoya defends his title against Miguel Angel Gonzalez on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas.

Whitaker fights Diobelis Hurtado on Jan. 24.

No easy mark: In May, Whitaker will be 33 and not quite as quick as he once was.

Don't count him out, though: This should be De La Hoya's toughest fight yet.

No, Whitaker hasn't looked good in his past several fights. However, his opponents haven't been the type to generate much passion. The guess here is that he hasn't been motivated.

Evander Holyfield is an example of what an older fighter can do when he's driven.

Looks like June: Holyfield and Mike Tyson will fight no sooner than June, Boorman and Tyson's co-manager John Horne said.

Holyfield wants ample time to recover from the Nov. 9 fight.

Boorman said Holyfield won't even discuss the rematch until after the holidays.

Meanwhile, Tyson is expected to keep his March 15 pay-per-view date. A deal to fight IBF champion Michael Moorer on that date is all but done.

Horne said last week that Tyson suffered a concussion in the Holyfield fight.

Rare treat: In a rare matchup of two great fighters in their primes, WBC and International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion Terry Norris will defend his titles against unbeaten IBF welterweight champion Felix Trinidad in May or June, probably in Las Vegas.

Although I might be in the minority, the feeling here is that Norris will win.

The big question mark is Norris' chin. He's been stopped by big punchers like Julian Jackson and Simon Brown and has been hurt by others. How will his chin stand up against one of Trinidad's fearful punches?

I see Norris fighting Trinidad as he did in the rematch with Brown, which Norris won by decision: He'll use his boxing skills, stay on the outside, score in flurries and avoid potential trouble.

``Terry's going to make him miss and make him pay for it,'' said Joe Sayatovich, Norris' manager. ``He's not going to stand toe-to-toe. He has too much skills for that.''

Also, remember that Trinidad's moving up in weight, which could affect his power. And he doesn't have the best chin, either.

If Norris wins, Sayatovich would love to match him against De La Hoya.

Norris is fighting Nick Rupa and Trinidad faces Kevin Leushing on Jan. 11 in Nashville. World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Henry Akinwande faces Scott Welch on that card.

Ready to go: Rock Newman, the promoter of heavyweight Riddick Bowe, swears his training-challenged fighter is rounding into great shape for his Dec. 14 rematch with Andrew Golota.

``He's obsessed with this fight,'' Newman said.

He's better be. If he loses, he might do irreparable harm to his career.

Bowe won their last meeting when Golota, winning the fight, was disqualified for repeated low blows.

Big upset: People have said all along that Marco Antonio Barrera was vulnerable to the right hand.

Junior Jones proved it by landing a big one that led to Barrera's stunning defeat on the undercard of Roy Jones Jr.'s victory over Mike McCallum on Friday.

Jones, who won Barrera's WBO junior featherweight title, instantly rebuilt the reputation he gained by winning his first 32 fights. Meanwhile, Barrera must begin a rebuilding process. He should start with his defense.

Barrera made no excuses after the fight.

``In this sport, no one is invincible,'' he said. ``You saw what happened to Mike Tyson.''

Rabbit punches: Former heavyweight champion Buster Douglas will fight again on Jan. 10 on ESPN, possibly against journeyman Rocky Pepeli. . . . Rafael Ruelas of Studio City turned down $250,000 to fight Whitaker, Dan Goossen of America Presents said. Goossen said his fighter is worth more than that. ``It should've been a million,'' he said. ``The money has to be right.'' Ruelas fights Rocky Balboa - that's his name - on Dec. 3 in Indio. . . .

Michael Nunn is scheduled to fight Lou Del Valle on Jan. 17. . . . David Reid, America's only gold-medal winner in the Olympics, is scheduled to have surgery to repair a droopy eyelid on Dec. 4, Goossen said. He'll be out six weeks and could make his pro debut in March. . . . A heavyweight to watch is Paea Wolfgramm, Goossen said. The Olympic silver medalist from Tonga, who makes his pro debut against Jeff Kirk on the Dec. 3 card in Indio, is 6-foot-5 and weighs 330 pounds. Apparently, he can also fight. ``He has a punch you wouldn't believe,'' Goossen said. . . .

Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall are expected to fight for the vacant WBC heavyweight title in early February, either in Las Vegas or London. . . . `Former Tough Man competitor Jim Buffo of North Hollywood will make his professional boxing debut on the Dec. 19 card at the Country Club in Reseda. . . . Thursday's card at the Country Club was horrible but nothing in the L.A. area, with the exception of the Olympic Auditorium, tops the atmosphere there.

Tuesday: On USA network, Mbulelo Bottle of South Africa defends his IBF bantamweight title against Aristead Clayton of Baker, La., in Baton Rouge, La.

Friday: On ESPN2, Thomas Hearns of Detroit takes on Karl Wilis of Roanoke, Va., in a 10-round light heavyweight bout in Roanoke.

Saturday: On ESPN, Johnny Tapia of Albuquerque, N.M., faces Adonis Cruz of Nicaragua for Tapia's WBO junior bantamweight title in Albuquerque.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: WHITAKER

Box: COMING UP (see text)