TYSON-LEWIS ISN'T REALITY - YET.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Boxing

The talk started even before Mike Tyson stopped Julius Francis in two rounds on Jan. 29: Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis? And, indeed, it would be one of the more compelling heavyweight matchups, if for nothing else but name recognition.

However, it's a long way off. Both fighters are quite busy at the moment.

Tyson is nowhere near ready to face the likes of Lewis.

All the training before the Francis fight had to be valuable, but the bout itself was a waste of time. Francis, while more courageous than some of Tyson's opponents, can barely fight.

And Tyson has admitted he needs several more fights before a major challenge, presumably fights more meaningful than his last one if he hopes to compete with a fighter of Lewis' caliber.

Tyson's expected to fight in April, possibly against Lou Savarese in New York or again in Europe. Tyson, who is treated better overseas than he is here, would prefer the latter and his handlers are working on it.

Still, Lewis is in Tyson's sights.

``It's very realistic,'' said Shelly Finkel, Tyson's manager. ``Hopefully, by the end of the year. Right now, the goal is to make sure (Tyson is) right. He looked right back on track in the last fight. Now, we want him to step up each fight.''

No one seems to think the fact Tyson and Lewis fight for rival networks - Showtime and HBO, respectively - will stand in the way of the fight. Such obstacles are overcome when enough money is involved. And this would be a big one.

However, Lou DiBella of HBO doesn't even want to talk about Tyson and Lewis. He has Lewis-Michael Grant coming up on April 29, a much more competitive fight on paper than Lewis-Tyson but presumably not as big at the box office.

``It's a long way from Julius Francis to Lennox Lewis,'' DiBella said. ``(Grant is) probably the best young heavyweight in the United States. This isn't a fight Lewis is sure to win.

``Will (Lewis-Tyson) happen? There's never been a fight that hasn't happened because of TV networks. The same will be true here - eventually.''

Tyson appeal: Is Tyson's appeal fading?

The Tyson-Francis fight received a reported rating of 10.6, or about 10 percent of Showtime's universe of roughly 10 million. That's not bad considering it was tape-delayed from England.

However, by comparison, the Naseem Hamed-Paul Ingle fight last year on HBO - which also was tape-delayed - had a 10.5 rating, about the same as Tyson-Francis.

Just something to think about.

Reid-Trinidad: Are you sitting down?

Forty-nine boxing writers and broadcasters were asked to predict the outcome of the David Reid-Felix Trinidad junior middleweight fight on March 3.

How many do you think picked Trinidad? Forty? Forty-five?

How about 21. The results: 26 for Reid, 21 for Trinidad and two undecided, this in spite of the fact that Reid has fought only 14 times.

Why? The experts seem to agree that Reid (14-0, with seven knockouts) has a significant advantage in strength and speed and several said the WBA champion from Philadelphia is simply too skillful for Trinidad.

Some comments:

--Kevin Iole, Las Vegas Review-Journal: ``I like Reid by decision. Trinidad showed against (Oscar) De La Hoya he has trouble with quick fighters and Reid is as quick or quicker than Oscar and is definitely stronger. I think Reid will make Trinidad look bad.''

--Colin Hart, The (London) Sun: ``This looks like another little man moving up to challenge the bigger man, a la Tommy Hearns moving up to fight Marvin Hagler, who knocked him out.''

Trinidad's supporters cite his experience. He's been welterweight champ since 1993 and has 36 fights (36-0, 20 KOs).

--Larry Hamel, Chicago Sun-Times: ``Felix's experience against tougher opposition is the deciding factor.''

Trinidad is a 2 1/2-1 favorite.

Tszyu watch: Kostya Tszyu makes the first defense of his WBC super lightweight title against Ahmed Santos on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

After that, it could be Julio Cesar Chavez, a prospect that makes knowledgeable boxing fans wince. Chavez is 37 and coming off a loss to Willy Wise in which he looked miserable.

Chavez claims he didn't train properly for the Wise fight and will be 100 percent better against Tszyu. Even if that's true, few believe it will make a difference against Tszyu, one of the more talented champions.

Tszyu said he expects a tough bout against Chavez in what could be Chavez's last shot at a major title.

``He's had so many fights, he has so much experience, he thought he didn't have to train (against Wise),'' Tszyu said. ``It doesn't work that way. It was like my fight against Vince Philipps. No one thought I would lose, but I did.

``He's knows who I am. He will train hard. Remember, this could be his last chance. He'll be hungry.''

Talk of a Tszyu-De La Hoya fight is just that, talk, Tszyu said.

``There's a long way to go for that,'' he said. ``I'm a super lightweight, he's a welterweight. And he has to get the title back (before he fights me). That takes time.

``Boxing's so unpredictable. You can't really decide what you'll do in the future.''

Zab Judah faces Jan Bergman in a junior welterweight bout on the Tszyu-Santos undercard.

The other Mosley: Larry Mosley, Shane Mosley's cousin, leaves Monday for the Olympic Team Trials Wednesday through Sunday in Tampa.

Mosley, 20, is the two-time defending welterweight champion and is ranked No. 1 in his weight class. He's never lost to any of the fighters he'll be facing in the trials.

``This is where it starts to get exciting,'' said Mosley, who lives in Watts. ``I get to go to the trials, show everybody I'm No. 1 at 147 and then bring home the gold for my country.

``I've been waiting a long time for this.''

Mosley said he plans to turn pro shortly after the Olympics this fall in Sydney, Australia. He already got a taste of what it will be like when the money starts rolling in: Boxing USA sponsor General Motors recently gave him a new Buick Regal.

``It tastes good,'' Mosley joked.

Rabbit punches: Lewis was named Fighter of the Year for 1999 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

He twice beat Evander Holyfield last year, once officially and once in reality. . . .

Hamed will defend the marginal WBO featherweight title against South Africa's Vuyani Bungu on March 11 in London.

Bungu, 32, gave up the IBF super bantamweight belt after his 13th defense to challenge Hamed. . . .

WBC lightweight champ Stevie Johnston will defend against Julio Alvarez on March 17 in Denver, Johnston's hometown. . . .

Former heavyweight champ Greg Page faces Terrance Lewis on Wednesday in Rosemont, Ill. Also on the card, Danell Nicholson takes on Tony La Rosa in another heavyweight fight.

Some other big fights this month: Vassiliy Jirov defends his IBF cruiserweight title against Saul Montana of Mexico on Saturday in Boise, Idaho, on Univision; WBC bantamweight champ Veerapol Sahaprom defends against Adan Vargas of Mexico the same night in Thailand; Angel Manfredy faces Sean Fletcher in a lightweight bout on Feb. 18 on ESPN2; Erik Morales defends his WBC super bantamweight belt against fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas on HBO; and De La Hoya faces Derrell Coley on Feb. 26 in New York on HBO. . . .

The Morales-Barrera fight - a potential gem - marks the fourth anniversary of HBO's ``Boxing After Dark'' series.

The star of the show? Arturo Gatti, who has fought four times on the series.

His classic with Ivan Robinson on Aug. 22, 1998, was perhaps the best After Dark fight. Or was it Barrera-Kennedy McKinney on Feb. 3, 1996, the fight that kicked off the series?

There've been many memorable fights. . . .

Doctors have cleared heavyweight Lance ``Mount'' Whitaker of Granada Hills to resume training after knee surgery late last year.

Whitaker hasn't fought since he outpointed Monte Barrett on Aug. 28, the fight in which he injured the knee.

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Photo: Lennox Lewis, shown here after he beat Evander Holyfield in November, probably won't fight Mike Tyson this year.

Laura Rauch/Associated Press