THIS KID COULD FIGHT.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

The one thing most associate with Kid Gavilan is his bolo punch, a sweeping right-handed punch that started at his waist, went 360 degrees and usually landed on someone's chin.

That and his flamboyance come to mind first, his ability to connect with the crowd. He'd do a Samba step into the ring or little dances during many of his fights long before the Ali Shuffle.

And he hit his stride at just the right time, when televised boxing was at its peak of popularity.

``He was served to me more times on Friday than fish,'' boxing historian and author Bert Sugar said.

However, Gavilan, who died of a heart attack at 77 on Thursday, also built a reputation as one of the greatest welterweights of all time during a career that spanned 15 years.

Gavilan, born Gerardo Gonzalez in Cuba, didn't have much power - he finished his career 107-30-6, with only 28 knockouts - but he was difficult to hit cleanly and had an exceptional chin.

He was never knocked out and was put down only twice in his career, by Hall of Famers Carmen Basilio and Ike Williams.

``Ike Williams (1-2 against Gavilan) once told me that it would've been impossible for any fighter in his weight class who ever lived to knock out Gavilan,'' said boxing historian Hank Kaplan, a friend of Gavilan's for a half-century.

``He had the most fantastic moves. You just couldn't get a good shot at him.''

That ability to avoid punches might be one reason Muhammad Ali once hired him as a consultant.

And a list of Gavilan's opponents reveal how remarkably deep the division was during his time. Among those he fought and beat, in addition to Basilio and Williams: Johnny Bratton, Chuck Davey, Billy Graham, Gil Turner, Tony Janiro, Laurent Dauthuille, Beau Jack, Johnny Saxton and Gaspar Ortega - all exceptional fighters.

Gavilan outpointed Bratton to win the title in 1951 and successfully defended it seven times before losing the belt to Saxton in 1954.

Gavilan had lost to a bigger Bobo Olson six months before the Saxton fight in an attempt to win the middleweight title, but their frenetic brawl is considered one of the most entertaining fights of the time.

And Gavilan lost two unanimous decisions to Sugar Ray Robinson when the greatest fighter ever was in his prime, although the first meeting (in 1948) was controversial even in Robinson's eyes.

``The first fight was close,'' Kaplan said. ``Robinson went into Gavilan's dressing room afterward and told him, `You shouldn't let anyone tell you I beat you tonight.'

``(Gavilan) told that story his whole life. Robinson was that kind of guy, he had a lot of self-confidence.''

Gavilan's career went downhill after the Olson fight. He was 10-17-1 in his final 28 fights, when he was fighting primarily for paydays in part because of his free-spending ways.

After cramming 115 fights into an 12-year period before Olson - almost 10 fights a year - his skills had faded.

Still, Gavilan won't be forgotten by those who followed his career.

In his later years, he regularly attended the induction ceremonies of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., and other boxing functions.

He loved being around people, particularly those connected to his boxing career.

``I loved the guy, he was a great guy to be with,'' Kaplan said. ``He loved people, he was a people person. He was in seventh heaven when he was acknowledged by someone. Like if someone recognized him, he loved that.

``... And, yes, he was very popular because he had a flare. I think he'll be remembered more for his fighting, though. The flash was secondary. He was a great, great fighter.''

--More Gavilan: Sugar said Gavilan wasn't the first to use the bolo punch.

``It was invented by Ceferino Garcia, a sugar cane worker in the Philippines,'' Sugar said. ``Gavilan used it, though. It was part of his flashy style.''

Sugar ranks Gavilan as the No. 10 Latino fighter of all time. Roberto Duran is No. 1.

Kaplan said Gavilan ``has to be in anyone's top-dozen welterweights.''

--De La Hoya-Mosley: Bob Arum, Oscar De La Hoya's promoter, has given Shane Mosley until today to sign for a Sept. 13 bout.

Otherwise, De La Hoya will turn to someone else, possibly Fernando Vargas. Arum also mentioned welterweights Antonio Margarito of Mexico (an Arum fighter) and Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua (a Don King fighter) as possible opponents.

Arum, annoyed Mosley is balking after initially accepting a guaranteed $4.25 million for the fight, extended Mosley's deadline because De La Hoya wants an opportunity to avenge his 2000 loss.

``I was ready to pull the plug (last week),'' Arum said. ``Oscar wanted to wait until (today). That's it: (Today) he signs or he doesn't sign.''

Arum won't be brokenhearted if De La Hoya faces Vargas for a second time instead.

``I've always preferred a Vargas rematch - now more than ever,'' Arum said. ``But I'm doing what I've been asked to do. Oscar really wants a rematch with Mosley, but he agreed that if he doesn't sign (today), I'm free to go after another guy.''

Arum said Vargas would earn more than $4.5 million because he's a bigger draw than Mosley.

``Vargas did 960,000 homes,'' said Arum, referring to the pay-per-view buys for De La Hoya's knockout of Vargas in September. ``Mosley did 580,000. Vargas sold over $1 million worth of tickets at Mandalay Bay (hotel in Las Vegas). Mosley would sell $10,000 if I'm lucky.

``It's apples and oranges.''

--More De La Hoya: A news conference to publicize De La Hoya's fight against Yory Boy Campas on May 3 is scheduled for noon Wednesday at the refurbished Orpheum theater downtown and is open to the public.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez will be handed a microphone, which always is entertaining. He will be joined by Mexican folk dancers and musicians.

--Austin-Marquez: Tim Austin must've missed the Vernon Forrest-Ricardo Mayorga fight. How else to explain his decision to trade punches with big-punching Rafael Marquez in his eighth-round knockout loss Saturday?

--Irvine Marriott: Ernie Zavala of Burbank is scheduled to face Pedro Garcia in a 10-round junior welterweight bout Feb. 25 at the Irvine Marriott.

Zavala is 15-2 (seven KOs). His only losses were split decisions against tough Efren Hinojosa.

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(color) Kid Gavilan, who died Thursday at age 77, was considered one of the best and most entertaining welterweights of all time.

Al Diaz/Associated Press