Columnist Dean Juipe: Oscar wins, earns right to return

Dean Juipe

Friday, June 16, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

It isn't written in stone, but Las Vegas has the right of first refusal on any fight in the world. Due to the amalgamated efforts of the casino industry, the city can have any fight it wants.

It chose to pass on Oscar De La Hoya vs. Shane Mosley.

Here's why: Believing De La Hoya's star power was at least marginally tarnished by his loss last September to Felix Trinidad, there's a feeling the Golden Boy needs to reestablish himself before Las Vegas boxing fans will fawn over him as they once did.

You'll note that he hasn't fought here since that disappointing night with Trinidad at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. A fight designed to rebuild his confidence, vs. Derrel Coley in February, went to New York. And now De La Hoya is fighting Mosley in their mutual hometown of Los Angeles, on Saturday.

Although a De La Hoya victory over Mosley isn't a sure thing, preparations are already being made to bring the former Olympic champion back to Las Vegas for a Sept. 9 fight. A tough but beatable Arturo Gatti is the front-runner to land the job as opponent, with a rematch vs. Trinidad not apt to fall into place until December or next spring when De La Hoya rejoins Trinidad's weight class (which is now 154 pounds).

Among the interesting aspects of De La Hoya's fight with Mosley is this curiosity: Two or three months ago when this fight fell into place it appeared somewhat even, but now that the two are ready to square off De La Hoya seems unquestionably superior.

Bettors certainly are backing De La Hoya -- he's a minus 250 to win in most Las Vegas sports books, which makes him a fairly solid favorite -- and in casual conversation it's difficult to find anyone who unilaterally believes Mosley will have his hand raised in victory.

It's possible -- maybe not likely, but possible -- that when the fight is over people will wonder what all the hoopla was about. It's possible De La Hoya wins easy.

His greatest advantage is his comfort level at 147 pounds and the fact that this will be his 10th fight at that weight. Mosley can say what he wants about being a natural welterweight, yet this is only his third fight at 147.

He's also almost two inches shorter than De La Hoya.

As for the matter of desire, which is certainly a viable factor in analyzing any fight, each man has his incentives and they would seem to balance out. In Mosley's case, a win increases his star power while a loss puts him into a financial tailspin from the $4.5 million he'll make Saturday. In De La Hoya's case, a win puts him back on track to be eventually regarded as one of the greatest fighters in history, while a loss could speed a career change that will see him shift from slugger to crooner, and, perhaps, movie star.

He has a future outside of the ring, although at up to $15 million a fight -- which he's getting here -- boxing remains his meal ticket.

The men have similar ages, with Mosley a year older than De La Hoya at 28, and comparable records, with Mosley 34-0 with 32 knockouts and De La Hoya 32-1 with 26 KOs.

But there are differences in size, power and experience in big fights, and those fall in De La Hoya's favor.

He'll win the fight. And as a sidelight, Las Vegas will be happy to reclaim its position as his home away from home.