Mosley prepared to reclaim status as one of premier boxers

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002 | 11:47 a.m.

LAS VEGAS AP) - It's been a long time since Sugar Shane Mosley had to prove himself in the boxing ring. But that's what the former world champion will have to do Feb. 8 when he tries to put behind two losses to Vernon Forrest and move up to 154 pounds to fight Raul Marquez.

Mosley, who already has reached a deal with Top Rank's Bob Arum to face Oscar De La Hoya in a September rematch, said he's ready to dispatch both boxers and reclaim his status as one of the world's best - this time as a junior middleweight.

"I'm looking for greatness one more time," Mosley, 31, of Pomona, Calif., said Tuesday at a relaxed news conference to announce the February fight at the Mandalay Bay resort-casino. "I haven't lost my spirit or style."

Much of the talk Tuesday was about the fight between Mosley (38 (2)- and De La Hoya, whom Mosley beat in a split decision on June 17, 2000. Arum said he hopes to have a contract signed soon.

"Oscar has committed to fighting Shane, if Shane wins this fight," Arum said. "But I can't say this is an eliminator."

Before Mosley gets into the ring with the De La Hoya, he'll have get to through Marquez 34 (2)-, who is no slouch, according to boxing insiders. Marquez, a 31-year-old southpaw from Houston, has boxed top caliber fighters before, including Yori Boy Campos and Fernando Vargas.

In 1999, Vargas scored a technical knockout in the 11th round, which sent Marquez into a short-lived retirement. Marquez has been working as a Spanish-speaking commentator for HBO since and has fought four times in the past two years. He worked both the Forrest-Mosley fights.

Marquez says he knows what to expect from the quick Mosley when they step in the ring for 12 rounds. But he's got a simple plan, the same one Forrest used to beat Mosley.

"Jabs," Marquez said. "Lots of jabs. He's very tough but he doesn't like to get hit. I throw good body shots. He didn't like Vernon's body shots. I'm the bigger guy, the stronger guy."

And if that doesn't work?

"I'm going to have to go after him and rough him up," Marquez said. "He's vulnerable. His confidence is down."

Mosley seemed unimpressed by Marquez's strategy. He said he's sparring with a heavier partner and training hard.

The two losses to Forrest have not affected him in any way, Mosley said.

"We'll see when I get in the ring," he said.

HBO will televise the Mosley-Marquez fight beginning at 7 p.m. PST. On the undercard, Antonio Margarito 27 (3)- of Tijuana, Mexico, will defend his World Boxing Organization title against former champion Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis 22-1 (1)- of Brooklyn, N.Y.