Shane Mosley making himself known, off to 26-0 start.

Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998 | 4:14 a.m.

line By Dean Juipe LAS VEGAS SUN

Even after becoming a world champion, the typical boxing fan didn't know what to make of Shane Mosley.

He had a glittering, unblemished record yet there were skeptics. Some felt he had been protected and some weren't impressed with his decision victory over then-IBF lightweight champion Phillip Holiday.

Two fights later, the doubts have all but been erased.

Mosley, 26-0 with 24 knockouts, appears to have arrived at the age of 26.

"I've had my little bumpy roads here and there, but my career started with high expectations and I'm still going up," he said from his Pomona, Calif., home. "I think I've proven myself already. I know there were people who heard about my fight with Holiday and wondered why I didn't get a knockout, but I didn't feel as strong as I know I should and I took some precautions."

Nonetheless, American TV networks took notice and Mosley's last two fights were nationally televised by USA and HBO, respectively. In the former, he stopped Manuel Gomez with a deadly right hand in the 11th round of their fight in El Paso, and in the latter, Feb. 8 in Uncasville, Conn., he dominated and stopped Demetrio Ceballos in the eighth.

"The more I get on these big networks, the more people will know about me," Mosley said, adding that he's also hopeful of landing a bout in Las Vegas.

"Being from the West Coast, a fight in Vegas would be like one in my hometown," he said. "I know it's being talked about."

A prospective opponent is former world champion Gabe Ruelas.

"He would be perfect," Mosley said. "He's well known and people recognize him. I'd say a fight with Ruelas would be fantastic."

With Ruelas' manager, Dan Goossen, saying his man is no longer interested in fighting for minimal stakes, a bout with Mosley makes sense from every perspective.

Trained by his father, Jack, Mosley is a three-time national amateur champion and a 1992 U.S. Olympic team member who continues to blossom. And his pro career has traveled a tougher road than many give him credit for, as he debuted against a former California state champion and saw the caliber of his opposition upgraded as he worked toward last August's bout with Holiday.

"I fought some guys who could fight," Mosley said of the early portion of his career, which included victories over Miguel Pena (who was 14-2 at the time), Oscar Lopez (once a world-class southpaw), John Bryant (of Las Vegas), Narcisco Valenzuela (a former NABF champion), Mauro Gutierrez (who once defeated Rafael Ruelas) and Mauricio Aceves (a former WBO champion).

Aided by a 74-inch reach, Mosley is emerging as a quality fighter with potential star power. Toward the latter goal, he has added a publicist and is making himself available to the media; he'll appear on the radio show Ring Talk on KRLV (1340 AM) Saturday at 8 p.m.

"My career's going well and I feel I'm steadily improving," he said. "I'm an all-around fighter and I punch with authority."

His opponents, and fans, have taken noticed.