GOOD-GUY NORRIS HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Boxing

All it takes is two minutes on the phone with Orlin Norris to get an idea of what Mike Tyson's comeback opponent is like: intelligent, mild-mannered, normal, the antithesis of Tyson.

Sure, boxing is a big part of his life. It has been since the former WBA cruiserweight champion turned pro in 1986.

However, he's not like many fighters, obsessed with winning and holding onto world titles and the glory and other rewards that come with it. His younger brother, former multi-time champ Terry, was more like that.

If Norris, 34, is obsessed with anything, it's his family: wife LaRhonda and their two daughters, Nikki, 9, and Shazay, 4.

``I'm a different type of person,'' Norris said. ``When Terry won his titles, he was saying, `I got to keep my belt, this is my title.' When I won mine, I didn't feel like that. I felt great, but it wasn't everything for me.

`` . . . My kids and my wife are everything to me. That's where everything begins and ends.''

This is a big, bad fighter?

Actually, Norris, a well-schooled boxer with only average power, has had a solid, albeit quiet career.

He's 50-5 with 27 knockouts, and has an impressive list of opponents. He has beaten Greg Page, Oliver McCall, Tony Tucker and Jesse Ferguson and has lost to Tucker, Bert Cooper and Henry Akinwande.

Tommy Brooks, Tyson's trainer, said Norris is ``a veteran, and he knows all the tricks in the book.''

Norris' greatest success came in the 190-pound cruiserweight division, in which he knocked out Marcelo Figueroa to win the title in 1993. He held the title until he was stopped by Nate Miller two years later.

It was so difficult for Norris, a natural heavyweight, to make weight for the latter bout that he had no energy once the opening bell rang and was stopped in eight rounds. He subsequently outpointed Miller as a heavyweight.

His career could've ended there and he would have been content. As he put it, ``I've had a good run, I've been blessed.''

However, there was one thing eating at him for the past 10 years: He wanted that one shot at the big-time, whether that was an opportunity to fight for the heavyweight championship or against an opponent of Tyson's stature.

He was supposed to fight Evander Holyfield after he outpointed Page in 1989, but that fight fell through and he wondered whether such an opportunity would permanently elude him.

He didn't believe it had actually happened until a news conference held last month to formally announce the Oct. 23 fight.

``It wasn't so much excitement that I felt, it was relief that it finally was going to happen,'' said Norris, true to his low-key nature.

Of course, no one expects much from him against Tyson, who is a year younger and about the same height and weight (5-10, 220 pounds).

Norris was hand-picked to lose, to be a baby step back into boxing for an aging former champion who hasn't fought since he stopped Francois Botha in January because he went back to prison.

Logic says Norris has neither the size nor the power to keep Tyson off of him and will go down quickly, never to be heard from again.

Norris' response to that? He has a secret weapon: His brain.

``How do I beat him? I use my head and don't stand in front of him,'' he said. ``I think I have my advantages: speed, mobility, boxing ability. I'm going to show the world how I can box.

`` . . . People are going to be very surprised.''

Win or lose, Norris will continue to do what he does now: Focus on the kids.

And not just his kids, although he could spend every waking hour with them and remain perfectly happy.

Norris also works with other children in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, relating at every turn how he managed to avoid the pitfalls of growing up in a tough neighborhood.

``I have a lot to give outside of boxing,'' he said. ``I witnessed how rough it can be. I wasn't involved in any of it, but I witnessed it. I'm lucky, I had two parents.

``I can relate to the kids, I'm able to talk with them. This is my neighborhood, the neighborhood I grew up in.''

Of course, it wouldn't hurt his cause if he were to win on Oct. 23.

``It would help a great deal,'' he said with a laugh. ``I beat Mike Tyson and people are like, `Yes, Mr. Norris, what would you like? What can I help you with, Mr. Norris? You want that building over there for the kids? No problem.'

``Yes, it would help.''

Norris described himself as ``a regular man, just trying to do what's right.'' He just happens to be a fighter.

Vargas-Quartey: HBO is pushing for a bout between IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas of Oxnard and former welterweight champ Ike Quartey, possibly in March.

Vargas had been in negotiations to face WBA junior middleweight champ David Reid.

``David Reid is a great kid and a terrific fighter,'' HBO vice president Lou DiBella said. ``However, it appears that his promotional firm (America Presents) doesn't want a Vargas fight right now. We're looking to make a big fight for Fernando, and now we're talking to the Quartey camp.''

One knowledgeable observer wouldn't have trouble picking a winner.

``I think the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the game right now are Roy Jones and Fernando Vargas,'' said veteran trainer Emanuel Steward. ``Jones is No. 1 and Vargas is No. 2. I don't see anybody beating Fernando. I was very impressed with his performance against (Raul) Marquez. He showed an amazing ability to analyze his opponent and fight off the angles that his opponent was giving him. He showed patience, precision and unbelievable balance. He didn't waste any punches.''

Is he nuts?: WBC junior lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather has rejected a three-year, $12.5 million contract offer - an average of about $2 million per fight - from HBO.

He called the offer ``a slave contract'' and said he would accept no less than $3 million for his next fight even though he's never made more than $500,000.

Mayweather is immensely talented but hardly the draw such fighters as Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are.

Even his father/trainer, Floyd Sr., thinks his son has crossed a line.

``I think he should apologize and hope they accept it,'' he told the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press. ``He could be doing himself a big injustice. If you don't go to HBO, where are you going?

`` . . . Little Floyd deserves all the money - De La Hoya kind of money - but it takes time.''

Rabbit punches: Sport magazine is focusing on boxing in its ``Best of the Century'' series in November's issue.

It includes the Top 10 moments and Top 10 fighters in history, according to a panel of boxing experts. The package isn't extensive, but boxing fans will find it interesting. . . .

WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe of England (27-0) will face Omar Sheika on Nov. 6 in England on HBO, his American television debut.

Calzaghe is considered one of the top fighters produced in Great Britain in years. . . .

America Presents won the purse bid for IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins' defense against No. 1 contender Antwun Echols.

No date or site has been announced. . . .

Shane Mosley has decided to reject overtures to fight Vernon Forrest because he wants a shot at a world title.

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PHOTO Mike Tyson, right, shown exchanging punches with Evander Holyfield in June 1997, is slated to fight former cruiserweight champion Orlin Norris on Oct. 23. Most expect Tyson to win, but Norris is full of surprises.

Leny Ignelzi/Associated Press