WANTED: INTRIGUING MATCHUPS.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

The powers that be in boxing finally got a clue and began to make some interesting fights.

Fernando Vargas-Yory Boy Campas and Floyd Mayweather-Angel Manfredy were first-rate matchups and we have plenty to look forward to in the coming months: Mike Tyson's return bout against Francois Botha, Oscar De La Hoya-Ike Quartey, Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis and Pernell Whitaker-Felix Trinidad.

Let's hope this is only the beginning. There are so many more intriguing matchups out there if only the biggest names in the sport would be willing to take risks.

The following is a list of fights we're dying to see in the coming year:

1. De La Hoya vs. Trinidad. Assuming Trinidad takes care of the aging Whitaker, this is the most in-demand matchup outside the heavyweight division.

It's a fight that could become the pinnacle of the winner's career.

The winner: De La Hoya. No one in or around his division would beat him.

2. Tyson vs. Holyfield. OK, we know who would win. Still, who won't be watching if (when?) these two get it on for a third time.

It would be Tyson's chance to recapture some of that faded aura of invincibility. It would give Holyfield a chance to further solidify his place in boxing history. And, of course, both would make absurd amounts of money.

The winner: C'mon.

3. Lewis vs. Tyson. Lewis might beat Holyfield in March. Would that mean he gets a crack at Tyson? Or do we see Holyfield-Tyson IV?

This matchup of two power-punchers would be more interesting than Tyson-Holyfield at this point.

The winner: Lewis. He's bigger and stronger.

4. Michael Grant vs. a top contender. We've heard all the hype and have been impressed with what we've seen from the giant young heavyweight.

It's time to see what he can do against a big-time opponent. Any takers? What's Michael Moorer doing these days?

The winner: Grant would be favored against all but Holyfield or Lewis.

5. Johnny Tapia vs. Mark Johnson. Some would scream that Johnson would be at a disadvantage moving up two weight classes (six pounds). So what? People make too much out of weight.

Johnson needs a big-name opponent, Tapis needs a challenge. At bantamweight, at junior bantam, wherever, this one would be fascinating.

The winner: Tapia by a nose.

6. Naseem Hamed vs. any number of big names: Hamed looked terrible against Wayne McCullough and needs to rebuild.

The A list: Floyd Mayweather, Luisito Espinosa and Erik Morales. The B list: Robert Garcia, Marco Antonio Barrera and Enrique Sanchez. Naturally, Hamed, more talk than walk, will face none of the above.

The winner: Anyone from the A list beats him. Those from the B list would make for a good fight.

7. Roy Jones-Holyfield: Yep, it sounds ridiculous. But is it? This is Billy Conn and Joe Louis a half century later.

Jones would come in around 190, Holyfield, oh, 215. It's a big weight disparity but not absurd. Among pertinent questions: Could Jones move well at that weight? Could he avoid the big punch that certainly would hurt him? Could Holyfield catch him? Or, like Conn did before he was finally knocked out, could Jones frustrate the heavyweight champ with his boxing ability? See, isn't this fun?

The winner: Holyfield. Jones couldn't avoid the champ forever.

8. Shane Mosley vs. Mayweather: First, this probably won't happen for some time if it ever does - the risk would be too great for both fighters.

However, the thought of it is exciting: Two champions, two of the best tactical boxers in the world, two big names, only one weight division apart. And, after all, neither has much competition in his weight class.

The winner: Mosley, who has the edge in experience and power.

9. Fernando Vargas vs. . . .: Uh, we have a problem here. No one in Vargas' weight class (junior middleweight) is in his league except David Reid, and that fight won't happen for some time.

Vargas' best possible opponents are in the surrounding divisions - specifically, Bernard Hopkins among middleweights and De La Hoya and Trinidad among welterweights.

We can only hope his handlers can find him an interesting opponent.

The winner: Vargas is likely to stay in his own division for a while and no one will touch him there.

10. Tyson vs. Andrew Golota: Anything could happen here, which is why this one is interesting.

Golota is a big, strong man who could give Tyson big trouble if he fights as he did against Riddick Bowe. Of course, Golota will be through in two if he freezes as he did against Lewis.

The winner: Tyson.

Weight problems: A lot of people were surprised that Mayweather handled Genaro Hernandez so easily when Mayweather won the WBC super featherweight title in October.

A possible explanation: Hernandez said he had a lot of trouble making weight. He ate one meal a day for three weeks and was in the sauna the day before the fight to lose five pounds.

``That was a big part of it,'' Hernandez said. ``I don't want to take anything away from Floyd, though. He's a good fighter. He doesn't have much power, but he has the quickness. He did what he had to do to beat me.''

Hernandez, 32, said last week he is retiring in spite of his disappointing performance.

He wants to get into computers for a second career and hopes HBO or another network picks him up as a television commentator.

Rabbit punches: Jose Luis Lopez broke his hand in the second round of his decision loss to James Page on Dec. 5, according to Main Events.

Lopez reportedly was grossly out of shape and had to lose considerable weight before his loss to Page. It would be a shame for Lopez to waste his talent by neglecting his training.

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PHOTO Floyd Mayweather raises hand in victory after defeating Angel Manfredy on Saturday.

Alan Diaz/Associated Press