OPEN SCORING NOT OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum, his promoter, have joined those who want to institute open scoring.

The announcement of the score after each round, they believe, will prevent decisions like that of the disastrous Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis bout on March 13 and, as De La Hoya put it, ``clean up the sport.''

Arum already has filed an application with the Nevada Athletic Commission to employ open scoring for the May 8 bout between Erik Morales and Wayne McCullough. If it's implemented and gets good reviews, they hope, it might then be used in De La Hoya's title defense against Oba Carr on May 22.

De La Hoya and Arum should be commended for any efforts to clean up the sport. It certainly needs it.

However, the implementation of open scoring isn't the answer: It would radically alter a sport that is as rich in admirable tradition as it is soiled with so many vile incidents. Instead, the powers that be should find better judges.

Arum makes some good points.

He said: ``It's one thing to learn about the crime after it's happened, like March 13. It's another thing to see the crime happening as it goes along. A lot of people who are pulling off a crime don't have the guts to see it exposed to the public as it's happening.''

True. However, he also admits boxing would have to make a significant sacrifice.

The often dramatic reading of the decision - which is unique to boxing - can be one of the most thrilling moments in sports. Indeed, is there a more intense scene than two fighters pacing the ring as the scores are being read after a close fight?

And that's not to mention the drama leading up to a decision: The round-by-round speculation as to who is winning is part of the fun of boxing for the fans.

Clearly, it doesn't make sense to sacrifice one of the most appealing aspects of the sport to solve the problem.

Then there are more practical issues.

Most significantly, fighters who build insurmountable leads will coast in the later rounds. Many bouts will, in effect, be over by the eighth or ninth round.

Arum used the NFL as an example of how open scoring works. It could also be used as an example of how it wouldn't work in boxing. If a football team is leading by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, it sucks the drama out of the game.

Is that what boxing wants? Two, three, four rounds that put viewers to sleep?

That's only one example of potential problems. Among others: Judges could be influenced by the scoring of the other judges or the reaction of the crowd; fans could become unruly mid-fight if they object to the scoring; and open scoring certainly would have an impact on how others - trainers, referees and doctors - operate and change the essence of the sport.

Again, the answer is the judges themselves.

Rob Lynch, executive director of the California Athletic Commission, said his organization rejects judges all the time. That's what's needed: Extremely close scrutiny of prospective judges and the willingness to reject or even ban them if they are found to be biased - for whatever reason - or their scoring is outrageously out of line.

A good example is Eugenia Williams, the judge who scored the March 13 fight 115-113 for Holyfield even though Lewis was the clear winner: She should never be allowed to work a fight again and should serve as an example of what will happen to rogue judges.

Arum doesn't buy such an approach.

``How do you know?'' he said, referring to the judges' integrity. ``How do you ever know when the scores are kept secret until the very end?

``How do you know you're not getting jobbed by some guy who's behind on his mortgage payments or has declared bankruptcy? How do you know?''

You don't. However, you also don't know the damage such a monumental change as open scoring might have on a sport that has thrived for generations the way it is.

Protest: America Presents, which promotes McCullough, will file a protest if open scoring is used for the Morales-McCullough fight.

The promotional company is against the concept.

``The solution isn't telling the fans the score and the decision beforehand,'' America Presents said in a statement. ``It's in improving the quality of officiating and divorcing the inherent monetary conflicts that currently exists between promoters and officials.''

New and improved? Goodbye De La Hoya the master ring technician. Hello De La Hoya the banger.

The WBC welterweight champion said last week that he could win ``easily without taking any risks'' and continue to make millions. However, he hasn't fought that way in his past two fights - against Julio Cesar Chavez and Ike Quartey - and said he plans to become even more aggressive.

So why do it?

``I don't know,'' he said. ``That's a good question.''

Not really. His reasoning is obvious and admirable: He wants to please the fans and enhance his legacy.

The problem is the effect it might have on him: One, he's at greater risk of losing this way and, two, he's beginning to take damaging punches to the head.

De La Hoya should take a step back and ask himself: Is it worth it?

De La Hoya-Trinidad update: Arum, who has met with Don King, Felix Trinidad's promoter, believes there's a 60 percent chance the two will fight in September.

Arum said he and King have agreed to the basic structure of a contract but must still work out the details.

``I'm optimistic that this fight can be made,'' he said. ``One thing I'm certain of, both Oscar and Trinidad want to fight each other. Once that's established, it's a lot easier to find a way to do it.''

Baby watch: De La Hoya's fiance, actress Shanna Moakler, was due to give birth to the couple's first child Sunday. They know it's a girl and have named her Atiana.

More Moakler: She said she's a lifelong boxing fan but, like many fighters' loved ones, finds it difficult to watch De La Hoya.

For example, she knows only secondhand that De La Hoya knocked down Quartey in the 12th round of their dramatic Feb. 13 fight even though she was there: She couldn't watch.

``By that time, my heart was dying,'' she said. ``I didn't even know that Oscar knocked him down. I wasn't even looking. I was looking away, watching the clock, waiting for the seconds to tick away.

``When Oscar had him against the ropes (and was pounding away) in the 12th, I did look, though. I was like, `You go baby.' ''

Rabbit punches: Arum said King has assured him that the Holyfield-Lewis rematch will not happen before October. September had been mentioned but that would conflict with De La Hoya's defense that month.

Arum expects the heavyweight rematch to take place in November. . . .

If the fight with Trinidad cannot be made, De La Hoya's short list for possible opponents for September is: Quartey, Pernell Whitaker and Spaniard Javier Castillejo.

Castillejo could end up being De La Hoya's opponent in December at the new Staples Center.

Another fighter who could - or should - be in the mix is Derrell Coley, who recently joined America Presents. He's the No. 1 contender for De La Hoya's WBC welterweight title. . . . A bout between Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Kostya Tszyu has not been set for May 15, as is being reported. However, the fighters' handlers are close to an agreement. . . .

Michael Nunn is still at it. The 35-year-old former champ will face William Guthrie in a 10-round light heavyweight bout on May 9 in Minot, N.D.

COMING UP

Friday: On ESPN2, Bronco McKart faces Pat Perez in a 10-round junior middleweight bout in Chattanooga, Tenn. Also on the card, Eric ``Butterbean'' Esch and Kevin Tallon are scheduled for a four-round heavyweight bout.

Saturday: On USSB, Herbie Hide defends his WBO heavyweight title against Orlin Norris in London. On that card, Marco Antonio Barrera fights Paul Lloyd for Barrera's WBO super bantamweight title.

Also Saturday, on Fox Sports Net, Monte Barrett faces Phil Jackson in a 12-round heavyweight bout in Las Vegas.

And, in Bremen, Germany, Dariusz Michalczewski defends his WBO light heavyweight title against Muslim Biarslanov.

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