Mosley’s latest foe has work cut out for him

Dean Juipe

Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 10:56 a.m.

Smooth, congenial and articulate, Shane Mosley makes for an ideal world champion.

He's accessible and cooperative, as well as a terror in the ring.

At 37-0 with 34 knockouts -- the highest KO ratio of any current world champion -- and almost 30 years old, Mosley might well finish his boxing career undefeated.

Maybe then the "respect" he continually refers to in casual conversation will be his for eternity.

"The true boxing fan loves to watch me work," Mosley said Wednesday, plugging his Saturday fight at Caesars Palace with Adrian Stone. "I have fans all over the world and they respect me and love me and they know they're going to get a good fight from me every time out.

"I want the respect of being known as the best fighter."

He's certainly the best fighter in the world at 147 pounds, and he's expected to handle Stone's challenge with a certain ease. The betting line in the sports book at Caesars has stilted even more in Mosley's direction this week, as he is now a minus 2000 favorite while Stone is a plus 1300.

"People have the perception that this is just another fight (for Mosley)," said his promoter, Cedric Kushner. "But we all know it's not just another fight, and I mean that sincerely."

Stone, who turns 30 today, is 30-3-2 with 23 KOs but has never beaten a man anywhere near Mosley's stature.

The mere magnitude of the situation all but overwhelmed Stone when he was introduced at the final prefight press conference, as he took the microphone and breathlessly exclaimed "Woooo" as he sought the right words. "He realizes the implications (of taking on Mosley)," Stone's manager, Phil Shevack, said for him.

Conversely, Mosley glides through public appearances with a delightful smile and a reverent persona. He's professional in every sense, including the manner in which he handles the endless questions pertaining to a possible rematch with Oscar De La Hoya.

"I can't say 'Oscar' and magically make him appear," Mosley said. "I'm in the driver's seat now and he's lost twice, so if he wants to fight again it will have to be on my terms.

"The purse would have to be split 50-50, if not in my favor."

Mosley, renowned for his ultra fast hands as well as his power, defeated De La Hoya by decision 13 months ago in Los Angeles. In the interim, De La Hoya has given a good deal of lip service to wanting a rematch but those in Mosley's camp simply don't believe him.

"Oscar doesn't want to fight us again," Mosley's father, trainer and manager, Jack, said. "We'll go our separate ways. He needs us more than we need him."

If there is to be a rematch it's at least a year away, as Mosley said he will fight fellow champions Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis and Vernon Forrest -- in no particular order -- in his next two fights, and then move up to 154 pounds.

Mosley currently holds the World Boxing Council championship and would like to add the other two legitimate welterweight crowns before going to 154 and a possible second fight with De La Hoya.

"I have no quarrel with Oscar and I certainly don't hate him," Mosley said. "But I don't really listen to the guy anymore, and I'm sort of upset about the respect factor. He acts as if he's the only one who can draw a crowd, but I've sold out arenas everywhere."

Mosley is being paid $2 million for this fight with Stone, who will receive $250,000 for the HBO-televised bout that will get under way at 7 p.m.

"We're not overlooking Stone," said Jack Mosley. "In spite of what people say about him not being a worthy fighter for Shane, I think that he is."

Mosley has turned his son into a sensational fighter, one who started boxing at the age of 8 and who won more than 250 amateur matches before turning pro in 1993. Within four years, Shane Mosley had won the International Boxing Federation lightweight title and he has gone on to win 12 world title fights without once suffering even a "close call."

Among the fighters he has bested are Philip Holiday, John John Molina, James Leija, Wilfredo Rivera and, of course, De La Hoya.

In his most recent fights Mosley has turned back Antonio Diaz in six rounds and Shannan Taylor in five, and bettors and fans alike are anticipating Stone won't fare any better.

"He seems like a very nice guy," Mosley said of Stone. "But he's not such a nice guy in the ring, so I have to be careful.

"I think we'll have a competitive fight without hating one another."

There was no animosity and nothing even remotely outlandish as the fighters agreeably shook hands and wished each other well. It was apparent there was mutual respect, and from Mosley's point of view that's of the utmost importance.