DON'T EXPECT MIRACLES : DOUGLAS IS BACK AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR NOW.

This and that from the boxing world . . .

The return of Buster Douglas to boxing is good for the sport, which needs all the capable and big-name heavyweights it can get.

However, don't expect the only man to beat Mike Tyson to do it again.

Douglas will be fighting for the first time since he lost his title to Evander Holyfield in 1990 when he faces journeyman Tony La Rosa on June 22. Ultimately, he wants to redeem himself against Holyfield and perhaps fight Tyson again.

There's no way he'll ever again be the fighter he was the night he shocked the world.

He's 36, he ballooned up well over 300 pounds (he's now around 260), he almost died two years ago as a result of diabetes and he has a history of heavy drinking.

Simply, he's been through too much to climb back to the top. Of course, no one expected him to give Tyson much of a fight the first time. You never know in this sport.

``We have a plan,'' Douglas told The New York Times. ``We would come at it differently. Tyson's different now. He just throws and throws and these guys aren't fighting back.'' . . .

Right now, Francois Botha is out as IBF champion for steroid use and Michael Moorer will be fighting Axel Schulz for the vacant title. Assuming nothing changes in an ongoing legal battle, Moorer should easily handle Schulz and regain the belt he lost to George Foreman.

This would also put a crimp in Tyson's plans to unify the three major titles because neither Moorer nor Schulz is promoted by Tyson's promoter, Don King.

Tyson likely will face WBA champion Bruce Seldon in July and beat him easily. After that, who knows?

Perhaps Lennox Lewis, who a New Jersey judge says Tyson must fight next. Perhaps Riddick Bowe, whose manager Rock Newman is trying to break a contract with HBO to facilitate a bout with Tyson on Showtime. Perhaps Moorer, who could give Tyson a decent fight but probably would lose because of a weak chin.

Of course, any of the above would be a better opponent than Botha, who is horrible. . . .

It might be that Bowe will never realize his considerable potential.

He was mediocre against a fading Holyfield in his last bout and, these days, venerable trainer Eddie Futch reportedly is unhappy that his charge is neither fighting nor training.

Bowe isn't going to beat Tyson on talent alone. . . .

Felix Trinidad reportedly will defend his IBF welterweight belt against Freddie Pendleton in May in Las Vegas.

Pendleton is the fighter Rafael Ruelas outpointed to win the IBF lightweight crown, which he lost to Oscar De La Hoya in May.

Ruelas, along with brother Gabriel, are scheduled to fight opponents to be announced on April 30 in San Antonio. . . .

Two of the world's best fighters are on the May 4 card at Anaheim Arena.

Marco Antonio Barrera will defend his WBO junior featherweight crown against Jese Benavides while Mark ``Too Sharp'' Johnson faces Francisco Tejedor for the vacant IBF flyweight championship.

``Dangerous'' Dave Dixon will be fighting Ladislao Mijangos on the April 18 card at the Olympic Auditorium . . .

``Ringside with Johnny Ortiz'' will air from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on KWNK (670 AM) beginning Sunday.

COMING UP

Tuesday: Frank Tate faces veteran Mike McCallum in a 12-round light-heavyweight bout in Indio. It will be televised on USA.

Wednesday: John John Molina takes on Rocky Balboa in a 10-round lightweight matchup in Youngstown, Ohio.

Friday: Pernell Whitaker, the Daily News pick as best pound-for-pound fighter, defends his WBC welterweight crown against Wilfredo Rivera of Puerto Rico on HBO. Also, in a fascinating matchup, sensational Ike Quartey faces Vince Phillips for Quartey's WBA welterweight crown. Assuming they win, Whitaker and Quartey could end up fighting each other.

Saturday: Dana Rosenblatt fights faded Howard Davis in a 12-round middleweight bout in Boston.

Sunday: Tracy Harris Patterson faces Harold Warren in a 10-round junior lightweight fight on ESPN2.

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Box: Coming Up (see text)

MEMO: Staff Writer Michael Rosentha l's boxing column appears Mondays in the Daily News.