DE LA HOYA TAKES THE MONEY FOR FUN.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer

For Oscar De La Hoya, this one is about fun. And an easy $4 million.

He'll be fighting Patrick Charpentier before 50,000-plus adoring fans tonight in El Paso's Sun Bowl on HBO. And, remember, he hasn't fought since December because of an injury to his left wrist. He misses center stage.

How he could he not be thrilled?

That this is more about idolatry than boxing - Charpentier is a 20-1 underdog - makes no difference to the WBC welterweight champion.

``When I have events like El Paso, it's a big event. And it gets me excited,'' he said.

Those close to De La Hoya (27-0, with 22 knockouts) say he's in prime condition both physically and mentally.

He continues to grow into the 147-pound weight class, where he plans to stay for a few more years. And, with the exit of Emanuel Steward, he's been working with venerable Gil Clancy and Roberto Alcazar, his longtime trainer.

Clancy has impressed upon his protege the importance of sticking and moving against a limited, but strong opponent whose ascension to No. 1 contender is dubious.

Of course, it doesn't matter. De La Hoya could win this fight one-handed - literally. He beat Miguel Angel Gonzalez with only a stiff jab and Gonzalez is a legitimate contender.

Charpentier (27-4-1, 23 KOs) hasn't lost in four years but has never faced anyone remotely in De La Hoya's league.

No matter what the challenger says - ``I'm not here to joke. I'm here to fight and I'm taking the title back to France'' - the fight is a joke.

That raises the question: When will De La Hoya get back into the ring with a deserving foe? A rematch with Julio Cesar Chavez is set for Sept. 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The fading Chavez will not be a monumental threat at 36 years old. However, it's a significant step up from Charpentier and will create considerable international excitement. Chavez's name remains valuable.

Then, if what promoter Bob Arum and De La Hoya say is true, it won't be long before the champ satiates his critics by fighting someone with a legitimate chance to beat him: Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey or Jose Luis Lopez.

The question is: How long?

Arum said he has begun negotiations with Trinidad's handlers and is awaiting a response to an offer that exceeds $5 million. That fight probably would take place in May, though.

Quartey is caught up in litigation over his management and doesn't appear to be in the immediate picture while the much-feared Lopez doesn't have the drawing power for which Arum is looking, he said.

That leaves the prospect of as many as three marginal challengers before a real test.

De La Hoya, who believes he'll have his detractors no matter who he fights, asks for more patience.

``There's always people that want to see somebody on top lose,'' he said. ``I even caught myself in that. With the Chicago Bulls, I said, `I'm tired of them being champions.' It's always going to be that way.

``I can't wait to see these (legitimate) fights, either . . . I will definitely fight the best fighters of my era. It will happen.''

For now, De La Hoya fans will have to be satisfied with an ``event'' rather than a ``fight.''

DE LA HOYA vs. CHARPENTIER

Tonight's matchup: Oscar De La Hoya (27-0, 22 KOs) defends his WBC welterweight title against No. 1 contender Patrick Charpentier (27-4-1, 23 KOs) of France.

Where: Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas.

TV: HBO, first bout 7 p.m.

Also fighting: Stevie Johnston (24-0, 13 KOs) defends his WBC lightweight title against No. 1 contender Cesar Bazan (31-2-1, 23 KOs).

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BOX: DE LA HOYA vs. CHARPENTIER (see text)