OSCAR'S A CUT ABOVE : DE LA HOYA DOMINATES CHAVEZ IN BLOODY TKO.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer

After all the anticipation, all the hype, all the talk about ``the fight of the decade,'' Friday's bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez was nothing more than a mismatch.

Technically, it was a ghastly cut above Chavez's left eye that led directly to his demise and gave De La Hoya the WBC super lightweight title - his fourth - 2:37 into the fourth round.

The 15,283 spectators at Caesars Palace and the millions watching at closed-circuit venues and on television knew the truth, however: Chavez had no chance - cut or no cut.

De La Hoya was too fast, too strong, too skilled and too smart for his one-time idol, who had never been stopped in his 16-year career.

Most significant, De La Hoya did what the experts said he had to do to win: He used his five-inch reach advantage to keep Chavez away while he pecked away at him from the outside with a darting left jab and follow-up rights.

Chavez, who looked all of his 33 years, lunged and leaped at his younger (23) opponent but, with few exceptions, was unable to penetrate his ample defense. On one occasion, he even summoned De La Hoya with his gloves in a desperate attempt to lure him inside, the only place the old man could compete.

Of course, De La Hoya wouldn't bite. He had Chavez exactly where he wanted him - helpless.

If this was the opponent he had to beat to prove he's a great fighter, then De La Hoya is indeed a great fighter.

Afterward, the new champion wouldn't gloat.

``This fight was very tough on me,'' said De La Hoya (22-0, with 20 knockouts). ``He was my idol, he always will be my idol. He's a great champion, a great person.

``My job is to win fights, though. . . . One thing about me, I can focus in the ring. I have no feelings whatsoever in the ring.''

Chavez (97-2-1, 81 KOs) wasn't as gracious.

Immediately after the fight, in the ring, he told television announcer Larry Merchant that De La Hoya ``is nothing, I didn't feel his punches, I wasn't impressed at all. If it weren't for the cut . . .''

And he claimed that the eye had been cut during training five days ago, an assertion his own adviser, Alberto Gonzalez, refuted. Gonzalez said the discrepancy was the result of confusion during the interview.

When De La Hoya was apprised of Chavez's comments, he tried to remain diplomatic but said what was on his mind.

``It goes to show you what kind of person he is,'' he said. ``I think I deserve a little bit of credit. Nobody ever stopped Chavez. . . . To say his opponent doesn't hit hard, that he's not a good fighter hurts my feelings.

``If he's right, then why do I have the belt? Why am I champion?''

Before the fight, the spectators made it clear with their impassioned cheers - and smatterings of boos for De La Hoya - that Chavez (97-2-1, with 81 knockouts) was their man.

However, once the fight began they had little to cheer about.

In the first round, both fighters were extremely cautious as they became accustomed to one another. It looked as if it would be an uneventful round.

Then came the cut. Afterward, De La Hoya said it was the result of a left jab about a minute into the round. It appeared to bother Chavez immediately, as he pawed repeatedly at the trickling blood.

The blood gushed from the cut in the second round, in which De La Hoya continued to keep a frustrated Chavez at a distance while flicking his left jab and following with scoring rights. It was in that round that Chavez tried lamely to summon in his opponent, but De La Hoya didn't move forward even an inch.

The third round was much the same, although it was Chavez's best. He managed to land a few hard lefts that brought life and offered a glimmer of hope to his until-then silent fans. The punches did no damage, however.

The end came quickly. Early in the fourth, nothing had changed drastically. And then a flurry of punches in a span of about 10 or 15 seconds seconds left Chavez's face a bloody mess, with blood gushing not only from his eye but his nose too. De La Hoya said afterward that he believed he broke Chavez's nose.

During the barrage, De La Hoya landed a half-dozen solid punches, a few of which seemed to daze Chavez and that was that.

Referee Joe Cortez stopped the bout to give ring doctor Flip Homansky a look at Chavez's eye and there was no hesitation: Homansky ordered the fight stopped. Chavez, who reportedly said he couldn't see through the blood, didn't object.

``I felt the punch in the first round,'' Chavez said. ``My corner tried to fix it, but the area was very delicate to start with.''

For De La Hoya, the future looks extremely bright.

Although nothing is final, his schedule looks something like this: Miguel Angel Gonzalez, another popular Mexican fighter, in September; Charles Murray in December; and Pernell Whitaker in February.

At some point in the near future, De La Hoya figures, the world will see how good he truly is.

``Now I'll go back to the gym,'' he said. ``I still need work, I still need to learn. In one or two years, maybe I'll be a great fighter.''

Meanwhile, Chavez insists he isn't through.

``Definitely I want to come back,'' he said, ``because I can't lose this way. I'm going to do two more fights and after that we'll see.

``I really want revenge.''

A rematch?

De La Hoya was amenable to the idea. But don't bet on it. By the time De La Hoya works his way through fighters nearer his age and ability, Chavez will be beyond 35.

No, Chavez's time has passed.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1--color) An opening flurry of punches from Oscar De La Hoya opens a bloody cut over the left eye of Julio Cesar Chavez.

(2) Consistently the aggressor throughout the fight, Oscar De La Hoya lands another of many shots to the head of Julio Cesar Chavez.

(3) Oscar De La Hoya is the winner and he knows it, celebrating his fourth-round TKO over previously unbeaten Julio Cesar Chavez.