GRIFFIN JUST GETTING OVER BYTE FROM '92 COMPUTER.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

In 1992, the year of the Barcelona Olympics, no one's future looked brighter than Eric Griffin's. Not even Oscar De La Hoya's.

Griffin, a 106-pounder with impeccable skills, was a four-time world amateur champion. As such, he was expected to win the gold medal and reap the rewards - in terms of money and fame - that were sure to follow.

Then a not-so-funny thing happened: In the second round of the Olympics, against a Spanish fighter named Rafael Lozano, Griffin was beaten by the pathetic computer scoring system and eliminated from the competition.

How can we be so sure of the injustice? A backup team of five judges scored it unanimously in Griffin's favor.

It was a devastating setback: The star that was Eric Griffin has never shined quite as brightly since.

When Griffin steps into the ring to face Jesus Chong for the vacant WBO light flyweight title Saturday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, it will be his first opportunity to fight for a world title. De La Hoya, with whom he was co-captain of the U.S. Olympic team, already has won championships in four weight divisions.

What happened?

Griffin has run into all kinds of difficulties.

There were injuries. He broke his hand early in his career, he threw out his shoulder and had to forfeit against Marcos Pacheco in a 1993 bout (his first loss) and he suffered a stress fracture in his ankle in 1995.

There were personal problems. Griffin said he has long associated with the ``wrong people,'' who have taken his focus from boxing. Included is a stormy relationship and his share of partying.

There were management problems. Griffin blames manager Bob Jordan and promoter Art Pelullo for many of his difficulties, saying they haven't handled his career wisely. In fact, he bolted to new management before Jordan filed a breach-of-contract suit and Griffin returned.

Now, the two are stuck with one another, although Griffin expects to split with Jordan soon.

``My brother (co-trainer Anthony Griffin) and cousin have big plans for me,'' he said but didn't want to elaborate.

And there has been inactivity. He hasn't fought since he was knocked out by Chong in April of last year, at least partly because of the management squabbles. Jordan said several scheduled fights fell through the past 13 months.

``It's just been a lot of things,'' he said, summarizing his lack of progress.

Griffin admitted he was rocked by the Olympic disappointment.

Clearly, he was the best in the world in his weight class. To have his destiny taken by a scoring system that is universally despised was more than he could handle initially, although he learned to accept his fate after ``three, four months,'' he said.

However, his professional career has provided only more disappointments.

The loss in the Pacheco fight wasn't difficult to accept. He was done in by injury. However, knockout losses to Carlos Murillo in 1994 and Chong last year - both of which he attributed to lack of proper training - further sullied Griffin's reputation.

Indeed, based on results, he hasn't been the fighter so many believed he would be. However, he does have one thing going for him: At 29, it might not be too late.

Under the watchful eyes of his brother and cousin, Griffin, sensing his ability to make a mark in boxing slipping away, swears he has learned to focus on his training. And he's healthy. Jordan insists his fighter is in excellent shape.

Most important, he finally has his world title shot and a chance to put all his troubles behind him.

``When I win the world title on Saturday, that'll be my gold medal,'' he said.

Get off it: The lingering uproar over TV analyst Larry Merchant's comments during the De La Hoya-Pernell Whitaker fight is garbage.

When Merchant criticized the use of a Mariachi band before the fight, he wasn't criticizing the band, the style of music, the country from which it originates or the people of that country.

Simply, he was criticizing what he believed was promoter Bob Arum's attempt to give his fighter an unfair edge and disrespect for the champion, Whitaker. Ethnicity played no role.

Injustice will prevail if Merchant, who has apologized even though he did nothing wrong, is pulled from even one HBO boxing broadcast over this.

Give the guy a break. He deserves it.

Talent galore: Trainer Emanuel Steward has worked with De La Hoya for a few weeks now as the champion prepares to defend his WBC welterweight title against David Kamau on June 14.

And Steward gushed over what he's seen.

``I've never worked with a fighter with the speed and all-around talent and intensity that he has,'' said Steward, who has trained many top fighters. ``It's almost frightening, his energy level. He trains three, four times harder than the average fighter and still plays basketball and golf after he's finished.

``His hunger to learn and be great is unusual.''

De La Hoya-Whitaker II?: Arum is now saying a rematch of last month's bout is a possibility for early next year.

Arum thought the first fight was dull and wouldn't attract fans if the two fought again. However, he believes De La Hoya would be more aggressive in a rematch with Steward in his corner.

De La Hoya is scheduled to fight Hector Camacho in September.

Fight in jeopardy: The Terry Norris-Felix Trinidad fight set for August is in limbo after Norris sued Don King in an attempt to invalidate his contract with the promoter.

Two other King fighters, Keith Holmes and William Guthrie, also have sued him recently.

Naturally, King smells a rat: rival promoter Bob Arum, whom he accuses of somehow orchestrating the the legal attacks in an attempt to lure fighters from him as he battles insurance fraud charges in federal court.

King called Arum, ``an evil, evil man.'' Arum's response to King's accusations: ``absurd.''

Yawn.

Who cares what King has to say about anything? And Arum should know better than to engage SKing in a verbal jousting match, although he had a right to defend himself.

However, the saddest thing is this: A rare matchup between two outstanding fighters seems to be doomed.

COMING UP

Saturday: On HBO, Kostya Tszyu defends his IBF junior welterweight title against Vince Phillips in Atlantic City, N.J.

Also Saturday, in Las Vegas, Jesus Chong faces Eric Griffin for the vacant WBO light flyweight title.

Sunday: On CBS, Mark Johnson defends his IBF flyweight championship against Cecilio Espino in Uncasville, Conn.

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Box: COMING UP (see text)