Mosley, De La Hoya agree to fight Sept. 13

Wednesday, March 19, 2003 | 9:31 a.m.

No specific site yet, but Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya have agreed to fight Sept. 13 on a pay-per-view card likely to be at either the MGM or Mandalay Bay. The Staples Center in Los Angeles is a third, although less likely, possibility.

Mosley was initially balking at accepting the fight for an offered $4.25 million, but Top Rank, HBO and De La Hoya each made financial concessions that will increase Mosley's purse. Top Rank upped its offer to $4.5 million; HBO promised an ensuing fight worth at least $5 million to Mosley if he wins (and one of at least $500,000 if he loses); and De La Hoya said he would give $500,000 of his $12 million purse to Mosley if Mosley wins.

Mosley won their first fight three years ago in Los Angeles.

A Top Rank spokesman said that there were no signed contracts, but the fight was set and promoter Bob Arum was pursuing a site.

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