DE LA HOYA GETTING TOO DEFENSIVE, SAYS EX-TRAINER : COMING UP.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal

The public reaction of those in the Oscar De La Hoya camp after his one-sided victory over Miguel Angel Gonzalez here on Saturday was universal: superb performance against one tough fighter.

However, there was one glaring exception: Roberto Alcazar, De La Hoya's former trainer who now runs the fighter's youth center and acts in other administrative capacities.

Alcazar, obviously still bitter over the fact he was replaced in 1995 by the more experienced Jesus ``The Professor'' Rivero, used the occasion of what he believed was a weak performance to say, I told you so.

``You build a wall and they tear it down,'' he said of De La Hoya. ``The Oscar I know knocks him out. This guy (Gonzalez) was nothing. That wasn't the Oscar I know out there.''

Alcazar objects to the transformation that has taken place under Rivero, a boxing guru from Mexico whom De La Hoya reveres.

In his last several fights, the WBC super lightweight champion has made defense an important part of his repertoire - too important, according to Alcazar.

Lost in his efforts to keep his opponents at bay with a killer jab and constant movement, Alcazar contends, is the fighter who used to take his opponents apart, the fighter De La Hoya was born to be.

``You don't train a fighter like you used to fight,'' said Alcazar, apparently making a reference to Rivero, a former boxer. ``You don't train him like Tyson. You don't train him like Ali. You train him like the fighter he is. I'm sorry, but I have to be honest.''

Alcazar, who said he's happy in his position, softened his stand only when he considered the bottom line.

``He won,'' Alcazar said. ``That's the most important thing.''

Off base: I don't agree with Alcazar.

No. 1, I don't blame De La Hoya for not wanting to get hit. He's a smart guy.

And, No. 2, I believe his refined style is effective. De La Hoya uses his now-devastating left jab and incessant movement to set up follow-up punches designed to do serious damage.

Frankly, he didn't follow enough - particularly with his right - on Saturday. Still, he landed plenty of power punches that would've ended the fight against a lesser opponent. Obviously, Gonzalez has one of the great chins in boxing.

De La Hoya hurt Gonzalez in the fifth and sixth rounds. Had he finished the job, no one - not even Alcazar - would have been critical.

I must admit one thing, though: I now wonder about De La Hoya's power. He landed his best shots and, with two or three exceptions, Gonzalez seemed utterly unfazed. I give Gonzalez credit. I also suggest that as De La Hoya continues to move up in weight, he will lose some pop in his punch.

Turning the other cheek: It has been said that De La Hoya, with his pretty-boy features, doesn't look like a fighter. After Saturday's fight, he looked like a fighter.

Gonzalez, who landed enough rights to get De La Hoya's attention, gave the champion a world-class shiner. The left eye swelled shut during the fight - inhibiting his performance in the later rounds - and he had a nasty bruise just beneath it.

Immediately after the fight, he was asked whether he wanted to wear sunglasses for the post-fight news conference. He declined. He wore his wound proudly.

He even maintained a sense of humor about it. When he was asked whether he now looked like a fighter, he quipped: ``Only on one side.''

Domination: De La Hoya won a one-sided victory in terms of computer statistics, as well.

He landed 361 of 561 punches, a remarkable 64 percent. Gonzalez was 251 of 736, or 34 percent, which meant he was swinging at air most of the evening.

The champion connected on 212 of 319 jabs (67 percent), Gonzalez 92 of 378 (24).

Gonzalez actually landed more power punches but had a much lower connection percentage. He was 159 of 358 (44), De La Hoya 1491 of 242 (62).

It should be noted that many of the power punches with which Gonzalez connected came in the ninth and 10th rounds, when De La Hoya was bothered by the eye and the fight was over, anyway. Gonzalez won both of those rounds on all cards.

Gone but not forgotten: When Jackie McCoy died last week, boxing lost the West Coast's top manager/trainer of the '60s and '70s.

McCoy, who died of cancer last Monday at 73, managed and trained champions Mando Ramos, Carlos Palomino, Raul Rojas, Don Jordan and Rodolfo Gonzalez. And he did it with uncommon integrity, according to friends.

``He was honest to a fault,'' said boxing publicist Bill Caplan, a friend of McCoy for 30 years. ``He was asked many times to exaggerate the facts to help sell a fight and he just wouldn't do it. That was his credo.''

Cross-trainers: Butterbean vs. hockey tough guy Marty McSorley? Caplan said the San Jose Sharks defenseman has said he'd like to do it.

No one thinks much of the Bean as a fighter. Still, McSorley would be in for a rude awakening.

``If Bean fights on skates, maybe (McSorley) would have a chance,'' said Caplan, Butterbean's publicist.

I want to see Butterbean fight the Valley's own Jimmy ``The Stump'' Buffo. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that.

Rabbit punches: A replay of the De La Hoya-Gonzalez fight is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday on HBO. It will be shown on the same telecast as the live fight between Pernell Whitaker and Diobelis Hurtado, a fight Whitaker must win to set up the April 12 showdown with De La Hoya. . . .

One reason De La Hoya fought defensively at times on Saturday: In the audience was Willie Pep, 74, one of the greatest defensive fighters ever. He once won a round without throwing a punch. ``There was some pressure having him here,'' De La Hoya said. . . .

Mike Tyson reportedly will be working with his one-time trainer Richie Giachetti for his May 3 rematch with Evander Holyfield. Giachetti took over after Tyson lost to Buster Douglas and was 4-0 with him. Tyson then went to jail for rape.

Tyson, trained by Jay Bright during his post-prison comeback, is widely seen to be lacking in proper guidance. Bright is expected to remain in some capacity.

Also, Tyson has moved out of his Southington, Ohio, home and into Don King's rustic training camp in nearby Orwell, which might be a sign he's very serious about the rematch. ``He's bunkered in,'' said Michael Marley, Don King's publicist. ``It's like a dormitory situation. . . . It's a positive sign. If he was lacking in preparation last time, he won't be this time.'' . . .

Although both camps apparently want the fight, the matchup between Felix Trinidad and Terry Norris has yet to be finalized. . . .

A deal to have IBF heavyweight champion Michael Moorer defend against Vaughn Bean in March is in the works. . . . Hector Camacho said at a news conference Saturday that Ray Leonard, his opponent on March 1 in Atlantic City, should be tested for steroids. It was a weak attempt to pump life into a fight that shouldn't happen.

Thursday: Rafael Ruelas faces Javier Valadez in a 10-round junior welterweight fight at the Country Club in Reseda. In preliminaries, Lionel Butler fights Marcos Gonzalez in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight bout and Freidia ``The Cheetah'' Gibbs faces Maria Fortelaza in a four-round women's bout. Also, Jimmy ``The Stump'' Buffo is scheduled to appear in a four-rounder.

Friday: On HBO, Pernell Whitaker defends his WBC welterweight title against Diobelis Hurtado in Atlantic City, N.J.

Also on Friday, in Denmark, Larry Holmes faces Brian Nielsen of Denmark in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight bout.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Oscar De La Hoya proudly displays his swollen eye at a news conference following his victory Saturday..

Associated Press

Box: COMING UP (see text)