WHITAKER IS WIRED : CHAMP EXCITED, FIT FOR DE LA HOYA BOUT.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer

Pernell Whitaker sat on a sofa in his hotel suite the other day, elbows on knees, and talked to reporters. And talked. And talked.

It's all he's been doing in the days preceding his fight with Oscar De La Hoya here on Saturday. And he doesn't mind the demands placed upon him by ravenous media. See, he wants to tell the world to watch closely on Saturday.

This, he promises, is going to be the punctuation mark on a fabulous career.

``I'm excited, really excited,'' Whitaker said. ``There is electricity. I can feel it. The world's going to see what Pernell Whitaker does best. Just watch.''

Whitaker, a six-time world champion, is always confident. This fight is special, though.

He won't admit it. He says repeatedly that he doesn't have much to gain. It's he who is - in his mind - the best pound-for-pound fighter, it's he who is the WBC welterweight champion. De La Hoya is the one with nothing to lose.

However, there's more to this fight. A lot more.

In fact, Whitaker, at 33, is no longer considered the best fighter in the world. Age and 25-plus years of fighting, as well as his tendency to have a few drinks now and then, seem to have taken a toll.

He hasn't been a special fighter since his controversial draw with Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993. That's eight fights worth of mediocrity, apparent evidence that he has begun the inevitable decline. At least that's how most see it.

His last fight, against Cuban Diobelys Hurtado in January, was a prime example. Whitaker went down twice and was losing on points when he knocked out the challenger in the 11th round to save the fight with De La Hoya, for which he will earn $7.5 million (to De la Hoya's $10 million).

To a good extent, the public believes he is fading. And even though he likes to say he doesn't care what people think of him, it eats at him and his handlers.

``I think at this point here, everybody has more or less written him off,'' trainer/manager Lou Duva said. ``They say, `He's shot, he's done.' You know, stuff like that.

``. . . They can say what they want. I know what Pernell can do. I know him. Not only physically but mentally.''

Hence Whitaker's excitement.

He attributes his recent mediocrity to lack of motivation. He says he hasn't been up for a fight since Chavez. And going through the motions is no way for the best pound-for-pound fighter to approach his profession.

Finally, De La Hoya provides a challenge and the stage to show that, no, he's not quite through. One more time - one last time? - he's as hungry as the kid who won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. He can't wait to get into the ring.

Clearly, he doesn't want to waste the opportunity. He surprised even those close to him with his dedication during his five-week training camp in Chandler, Ariz., far away from his wife and four children in Virginia Beach, Va.

Typically, his trainers must coerce him to train. Not this time. Word is he's as fit - physically and mentally - as a 33-year-old boxer who has fought 42 times can be.

``This is the first time in many years I'm calm,'' said Bob Wareing, Whitaker's longtime conditioning trainer. ``Truthfully, I wondered whether he could do this. This isn't the same hungry kid from the projects. This is a millionaire. He's been doing this his whole life. At this point, it's hard to get up for (training). But he did.

``It's all back. The legs. The quickness. His body has responded. And I'm happy as hell.''

If - and it's a big if - Whitaker is the fighter of old, De La Hoya could be in trouble.

Like De La Hoya, Whitaker was a star from the beginning. When Duva first saw him as an amateur, the first name that popped into his mind was ``Willie Pep,'' one of the smartest and most skillful boxers in history. And it proved to be an apt comparison.

Whitaker developed into one of the greatest fighters of the past half century. His quickness was breathtaking, his left-handed stance and awkward style beguiling and his ring savvy unlimited. It was what seemed to be an unbeatable package.

In fact, his professional record is 40-1-1. In fairness, it's 43-0. His decision loss to Jose Ramirez in 1988 was a travesty. And the draw with Chavez was no more legitimate.

In title fights, he's 19-1-1 against opponents who were a combined 878-58-15 (a winning percentage of 92). Seventeen of the 21 were either No. 1 contenders or former or current world champions. Obviously, his credentials are impeccable.

However, one thing has always been missing: universal fan appeal.

Whitaker isn't an exciting fighter. He has never been one to exchange punches. And he doesn't have much of a punch. He has knocked out only 17 opponents, only five in the '90s, which isn't good enough for many bloodthirsty boxing fans.

So even at his best, Whitaker has never garnered universal acceptance - the kind of acceptance the much-younger De La Hoya has.

What better way for Whitaker to change this than to win on Saturday. If it can be done at 33.

``They built up Chavez as a monster and look what I did to him,'' Whitaker said. ``Now, against De La Hoya, they're using age. They say my age might show up in the ring.

``Well, that's (expletive). To be 33 is one thing. To feel 33 is another. Michael Jordan is around my age. Bruce Smith is. And they dominate their sports. I'm speaking for all 33-year-olds: We can dominate.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) Pernell Whitaker adjusts his headphones as he listens to music and talks to reporters.

Associated Press

Box: HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE