Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 4, 1996

A George Foreman-Mike Tyson fight has become a possibility for this summer. . . .

Bob Arum, who would co-promote with Don King, thinks it will be made if Foreman beats Michael Moorer on Feb. 29 at Madison Square Garden and Tyson beats Frank Bruno on March 16 at the MGM Grand. . . .

“For the first time, I had serious negotiations with King this week,” Arum said. “From the tone of the conversations, I’m very confident that we will come to an agreement.” . . .

Arum and King have co-promoted two shows, the first Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran match and a doubleheader that featured Tyson and Foreman. . . .

Foreman, who had said that he wouldn’t fight for King and that the Moorer bout would be his last, now says, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that no one could pass up.” . . .

The bigger of the ifs is Foreman beating Moorer again. . . .

Foreman won the World Boxing Assn. and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles when he knocked out Moorer in the 10th round on Nov. 5, 1994. However, Moorer was far ahead on points before Foreman connected with a right hand. . . .

Tyson has a knockout win over Bruno, who is the WBC champion. . . .

Foreman and Tyson would be working on percentages, and total receipts might reach $100 million. . . .

Foreman will celebrate his 47th birthday next Wednesday. . . .

Arum already has signed Tyson--Darryl Tyson, that is, for a 10-round bout at 140 pounds against Oscar De La Hoya on Feb. 9 at Caesars Palace. . . .

In the other half of the doubleheader that will be televised by HBO, Julio Cesar Chavez will defend his WBC 140-pound title against Scott Walker. . . .

If all goes as expected, De La Hoya will fight Chavez June 7 at Caesars Palace. . . .

*

UCLA is the defending NCAA basketball champion, but its Pacific 10 Conference opener against Washington State tonight at Spokane won’t be seen here. . . .

Instead, we get what might be a better game, but one with much less local interest, Arizona at California, at 7:30 on Prime Sports. . . .

The only other remaining Bruin game that won’t be televised will be Feb. 29 at Oregon State. . . .

It is difficult to argue with the Associated Press media panel that selected Brett Favre as NFL most valuable player although runner-up Jerry Rice wouldn’t have been a bad choice, either. . . .

If the Heisman Trophy ballot boxes closed today instead of a couple of weeks ago, Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier would be a landslide winner. . . .

How dominating were the Cornhuskers this season? They outscored four teams that finished in the top 10--Florida, Colorado, Kansas State and Kansas--196-73. . . .

Florida Coach Steve Spurrier proved to be more gracious in defeat than victory. . . .

No football telecast is complete without the box in the corner that shows the score and time remaining. . . .

Dr. Caton, who is Wayne Lukas’ yet-unraced Kentucky Derby prospect, is working out regularly and scheduled to make his debut late next month at Santa Anita. . . .

Two world sprint record holders, G. Malleah and Lucky Forever, virtually ensure that Sunday’s 5 1/2-furlong El Conejo Handicap will be the fastest race of the young year. . . .

Stefan Edberg’s farewell tour will include the Infiniti Open July 29-Aug. 4 at UCLA. He won the tournament in 1990. . . .

Outland Trophy winner Jonathan Ogden is entered in the shotput at the L.A. Invitational Feb. 24 at the Sports Arena, but don’t expect the UCLA tackle to win. Among the competitors will be 1995 world champion John Godina and world-record holder Randy Barnes. . . .

Dan Goossen of Top Rank Inc. is trying to put together what would be Long Beach’s biggest fight in years, home-town heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams in a 12-round bout at the Pyramid in March. . . .

Those wishing to contribute to a fund for the family of light-heavyweight contender Ernie Magdaleno, who was killed in an auto crash Sunday, are asked to send checks to Carrie Magdaleno, care of Star View School, 8411 Worthy Drive, Midway City, Ca. 92655. . . .

The bowl game overtime rule also should be used during the regular season. It eliminates the one result, a tie, that usually leaves both sides dissatisfied. One game was decided in overtime this postseason, Toledo over Nevada in the Las Vegas Bowl.