Canseco takes futile swings

Jose Canseco‘s boxing career hasn’t exactly taken off.

The former baseball slugger and admitted steroids cheat finds himself in a revolving door of gimmickries inside the ring.

First, he fought former pro football player Vai Sikahema and got his butt kicked in July. Then, he fought Danny Bonaduce, the obnoxious little kid from the ’60s television series “The Partridge Family,” in January and managed only a draw, even though he outweighed Bonaduce by 80 pounds.

Now, Canseco is looking to fight an ordinary Joe off the street in his latest boxing foray.

“Tryouts” will be May 3 at a shopping mall in Miami for a chance to knock Canseco’s block off. It would be part of a pay-per-view bout in Fort Lauderdale on June 27.

What a great opportunity for Mike Tyson to get back into boxing, not to mention doing some good for the public. Perhaps he can get community service credit.

• FREDDIE 3, FLOYD SR. 0 — The war of words between boxing trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. continued this week as the men who are preparing Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton for their May 2 fight at the MGM Grand Garden traded verbal jousts.

Roach, who will be given the 2008 Trainer of the Year Award at the Boxing Writers Association of America dinner in June, said to Mayweather on Wednesday, “I would like you to hand me the trainer trophy because that is the closest you’re going to get to it.”

Mayweather’s response: “Guess what Freddie, I’m already in your head. I’ve got you just where I want you.”

This will be Roach’s third Trainer of the Year Award, having won it in 2003 and ’06. Mayweather has yet to win it.

• NFL’S MIDNIGHT MADNESS — College basketball isn’t the only sport to have Midnight Madness.

The NFL will have its own version tonight when it begins distribution of tickets to Saturday’s draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Thousands of draftniks camping out from early this morning will have to wait until midnight to get a wristband. Then they’ll have to return at 2 p.m. EDT Saturday to get into Radio City.

That’s a lot of waiting in line. And it probably explains why the draft has become such a boo-fest. Too many sleepless draftniks.

• CHAMBERLAIN WARNED — The latest installment of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry begins today at Fenway Park, and at the center of attention will be when Kevin Youkilis steps into the batter’s box in the bottom of the first inning against Joba Chamberlain.

The two have a history, with Chamberlain whistling no fewer than four fastballs at or near Youkilis’ head in the nearly two years they have faced each other. David Ortiz, the Red Sox’s main man and enforcer, warned Chamberlain that headhunting will not be tolerated.

“None of that, man,” Big Papi said. “Just play the game the way it’s supposed to be, and that’s it.

“This is a guy, as good as he is, the next step for him will be to earn the respect of everybody in the league. He’s not a bad guy, but when things like that happen, people get the wrong idea.”

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL