DE LA HOYA DRAWS MORE THAN 45,000 TO SEE HIS TITLE DEFENSE

          Oscar De La Hoya defended his WBC welterweight title on
     Saturday by knocking down Patrick Charpentier in the third
     round in El Paso, TX, before 45,368, according to Barry Horn
     of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS.  Horn: "Given the quality of
     some of his opponents of late, there are those who would
     debate the claim that De La Hoya is the best fighter pound-
     for-pound in the world.  That he is boxing's best igniter
     heartbeat-for-heartbeat cannot be denied" (DALLAS MORNING
     NEWS, 6/14).  Header over PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER story: "De
     La Hoya Savors Victory As Critics Throw Jabs" (6/15).