VALENCIA BOXER, 42, GOING STRONG AFTER ALL THESE YEARS DAD OF LOCAL PREMIER ATHLETE TO DEFEND TITLE IN MUNICH NEXT YEAR.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

Among boxing's most accomplished nonheavyweights of all time, Valencia's very own Virgil Hill -- father of Valencia High multisport athlete Virgil Hill Jr. -- is 42 and still going strong.

Hill (50-5, 23 knockouts) is the WBA cruiserweight champion -- his fifth belt since beginning his career in 1984 -- and his next title defense is a showdown against Henry Maske (30-1) early next year in Munich, a rematch of Hill's 1996 victory that sent Maske into a 10-year retirement.

Maske makes his comeback in his home country, and this title defense should be like the Super Bowl of boxing over there.

``I guess he retired, but in some ways Maske has an advantage in the rematch even though he hasn't fought in 10 years, because he hasn't had the wear and tear,'' Hill said.

Hill has been relatively inactive himself, fighting just twice since mid-2003. But his last fight was among the biggest of his career, a 12-round decision over Valery Brudov on Jan. 27 in Atlantic City, N.J., to claim the vacant WBA title.

The former Olympic silver medalist won his first 30 fights before losing to Thomas Hearns by decision in 1991. He's also lost to Roy Jones Jr., but has defeated just about everyone else during a remarkable 22-year career.

Hill readily agrees that people think he's crazy to still box at 42, but who can't agree against his success?

``Crazy? That's what they say, but, hey, I just won another title,'' Hill said. ``I've been able to compete at a world-class level for a long time. The only reason I've had problems finding opportunities over the past few years is because I've had a lovely promoter named Don King. It's hard if you're not one of his show horses, but our contract runs out in 11 days, and I'm going to celebrate. I haven't talked to him in three years.''

Unlike a lot of professional boxers who've been equally talented through the years, Hill has somehow managed to survive in a business that applauds you one minute, then turns its back on you the next.

``I live clean, no drugs, a moderate drinker, and I always stay in shape,'' Hill said. ``Boxing is a very unforgiving sport that will spit you out without even thinking about it.''

That's why Hill doesn't want his son to follow him into the boxing world, though the father does admit young Virgil has the natural tools to be a great fighter.

``Virgil is bigger than I was at his age. He'd be good but I wouldn't let him box even if he wanted to,'' Hill said. ``Unless you're fully focused on what you want to do for your life, boxing is just too dangerous. It's a matter of success or disaster -- success if you win, and a disaster if you lose because you might end up paying with your life. That's not something you want to play around with if you're not totally dedicated.''

Hill does plan to retire soon -- doesn't every boxer say that? -- and there's a chance he might finish his career with a ``stand-up match'' against Chuck Liddell, a star on the Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit.

Perhaps then Hill will have more time to dedicate himself to his family, which includes daughters Alaysia, 12 and Azaria, 8, along with two children from a previous relationship.

``I've been kind of going back and forth from the East Coast to the West Coast, but I love Valencia. It's beautiful,'' said Hill, who's training in New Jersey.

For now, his focus is on the Munich fight because Maske is a national hero there.

``The way boxing works is we go to wherever the highest dollar is, and right now that's in Europe,'' Hill said. ``It's going to be quite an event, too, because Henry in Germany, Maske is an icon.''

Hart High's football team is in much better spirits this week after winning its first game -- a 39-15 victory at Bishop Amat of La Puente on Friday -- following two consecutive losses to open the season.

``It was real nice just to get the first win and get rolling,'' quarterback Alex Pettee said. ``At Hart, there are a lot of high expectations for the football team, so we had to step it up real quick.''

Defending Southern Section Div. II champion Hart (1-2) looks to parlay the momentum at Westlake (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. Westlake has failed to qualify for the playoffs over the past two seasons after winning the 2003 Div. IV title -- the Warriors were just 3-7 last year, one of the worst performances in school history - but Westlake usually plays Hart tough, and those in the know figure Thursday's showdown could go either way.

``We've already forgotten about that first win because you can't sit around and think about the past,'' Hart coach Mike Herrington said. ``I enjoyed the weekend, but on Monday it was time to get back to work. The Westlake rivalry is a good series because it's two good programs that have competed at a high level for a long time.''

Hart's top player is running back Delano Howell, who scored a school-record five touchdowns last week, including a 95-yard kick return to open the game. Westlake is led by quarterback Ryan Campbell, a three-year starter.

Braden Slouber, a promising center fielder who played junior varsity baseball at Montclair Prep of Panorama City as a sophomore last season, has transferred to Canyon. Slouber's older sister, Kirsten, is a top softball player at Loyola Marymount who once struck out 47 in a 21-inning softball game at Montclair Prep.

Slouber is the second impact baseball transfer over the past two years to arrive at Canyon, following Colby Hyatt, a returning senior who transferred from L.A. Baptist High of North Hills in 2005.