DE LA HOYA FAVORS PUNISHMENT.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya isn't angry with Fernando Vargas for tainting their Sept. 14 championship fight by testing positive for steroids.

In a way, De La Hoya said, the news made his knockout victory ``that much sweeter'' because he stopped a juiced-up opponent. He even offered to help Vargas in any way he could, as if his rival actually would call him.

However, De La Hoya became serious and didn't hold back when asked how the Nevada State Athletic Commission should handle the situation.

``If it's true, and the Nevada commission doesn't come down hard on him,'' he said, ``a lot of fighters are going to start doing it.

``... This is the first time this has happened in boxing. And if it happened once, it can happen again.''

De La Hoya also was asked whether he believes Vargas knowingly took the steroid Stanozolol, for which sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive in 1988.

He didn't say yes or no but made his feelings clear.

``I talked about it with Rob Garcia, my physical trainer. He told me the only way to take that steroid is by injection,'' said De La Hoya, shrugging his shoulders.

Several doctors said they believe the steroid could be ingested, which makes Vargas' suggestion plausible that someone slipped him the performance-enhancing drug without his knowledge.

However, assuming the test was accurate, the fact remains he had steroids in his system when he and De La Hoya exchanged punches last month.

That was troubling to Richard Schaeffer, CEO of De La Hoya's business operations, who also believes Vargas should be punished because the physical advantages produced by steroids unduly places an opponent's health at risk.

Boxing, he implied, is dangerous enough.

``It isn't right in any sport,'' he said. ``In this sport, there is zero room for tolerance,'' he said. ``This isn't Ben Johnson in a race. This isn't about winning or losing. This is about playing with someone's life.''

--Mayweather's take: Floyd Mayweather Sr., De La Hoya's trainer, isn't one to keep his thoughts to himself. He said he has no doubt Vargas was aware he had taken steroids.

``He would take anything, do anything to win that fight. If he hadn't taken steroids, Oscar would've knocked him out in five rounds instead of 11,'' Mayweather said.

--Back on track? Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills fights Sunday with Joe Goossen in his corner for the first time since knocking out Oleg Maskaev in March 2001.

Goossen said his 6-foot-8 heavyweight is fit - 247 pounds with clothes on - and ready to regain his place among the title contenders.

Whitaker (24-2-1, with 20 knockouts) faces Mike Tyson-look-alike Cliff Couser (24-7-2, 12 KOs) in Choctaw, Miss., on Fox Sports Net, after going 1-1-1 in his past three fights without Goossen.

``He feels he has to show people that what they saw (the past year) is an aberration,'' Goossen said, ``that that was an unfortunate time in his career, and that he'll be what they remember - a rising star in the heavyweight division.''

A one-sided loss to Jameel McCline last year and a draw with unknown Ray Austin in April, when Whitaker weighed 280 pounds, have hurt his stock after a sensational victory over Maskaev.

Still, Goossen believes Whitaker is only a few good performances away from becoming a prime contender.

Assuming he wins Sunday, Whitaker will fight again before the end of the year and then set his sights on a big-name opponent.

``We have to go out in the next few fights and get all the good feelings back,'' said Goossen, who also manages Whitaker. ``We want to get back on a roll, get some momentum going.

``I want to emphasize that we're back; we're picking up where we left off.''

--Bad idea? Roy Jones Jr., who signed a preliminary agreement to meet WBA heavyweight titleholder John Ruiz early next year, is taking a significant gamble.

Jones might be quick enough to avoid Ruiz for 12 rounds - and he might not be. It would take only one good punch to put Jones to sleep. Remember, Ruiz hurt Evander Holyfield, who has one of the best chins in boxing history.

The sight of a great fighter flat on his back in a fight he probably shouldn't take is unsettling.

--Rabbit punches: Shane Mosley tentatively is scheduled to face former world champion Yory Boy Campas at 154 pounds in early February.

Mosley, who never has fought in the junior-middleweight class, is coming off consecutive losses to Vernon Forrest.

If Mosley beats Campas, who is tough but limited, he might meet De La Hoya in a rematch in May. Staples Center, the site of their first meeting, is in the running again. ...

Ricardo Lopez, one of the great little fighters of all time, reportedly will announce his retirement this month.

Lopez (50-0-1, 37 KOs) held titles at strawweight and junior flyweight.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

The 10 best fighters pound-for-pound in the world:

1. Roy Jones Jr.: A fight with Ruiz would be his long-awaited challenge

2. Bernard Hopkins: He needs to get into ring with another big-name opponent

3. Vernon Forrest: Two consecutive victories over Mosley says a lot

4. Oscar De La Hoya: Fine performance against Vargas proves he still has it

5. Marco Antonio Barrera: Disappointing performance against Morales

6. Kostya Tszyu: Winner of Ward-Gatti would be interesting opponent

7. Lennox Lewis: No heavyweight can touch him if he's prepared

8. Erik Morales: He re-established himself with his performance against Barrera

9. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: The talent is there; he needs to make most of it

10. Shane Mosley: Forrest has his number, but his talent is unquestioned

COMING UP

Wednesday

--Osamu Sato vs. Salim Medjkoune, for Sato's WBA super-bantamweight title, Tokyo, No TV

Friday

--Zahir Raheem vs. Luisito Espinoza, featherweights, Tulsa, Okla., ESPN2

Saturday

--Antonio Margarito vs. Danny Perez, for Margarito's WBO welterweight title, the Pond, Showtime. Also, Eric Morel vs. Denkaosaen Kaowitch, for Morel's WBA flyweight title.

Sunday

--DaVarryl Williamson vs. Eliecer Castillo, heavyweights, Choctaw, Miss., Fox Sports Net. Also, Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills vs. Cliff Couser, heavyweights

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) Oscar De La Hoya, right, thinks Fernando Vargas should be punished severely for taking steroids.

Chris Polk/Associated Press

Box:

(1) DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (see text)

(2) COMING UP (see text)