SHANE MOSLEY CAMPAIGNS AS A JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT
By Blackbull
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
(IB-February 3, 2003) - “Sugar” Shane Mosley will step into the ring as a junior
middleweight on Feb. 8, up some seven or eight pounds from the welterweight
division he once ruled.
“I still feel I’m a great fighter.” Mosley said. “I’m going to the 154-pound
division and see what develops there.”
What’s sure to develop there is a rematch against Oscar De La Hoya. A rematch
has tentatively been set for September once the money matters have been
resolved.
However, before Mosley starts to get too “sticky” over purse money to fight De
La Hoya, he needs to focus on Raul Marquez whom he’ll meet this weekend.
Mosley may think his fight against Marquez is a walk in the park, but Marquez
has other thoughts. He intends to show Mosley he’s not a fighter past his prime.
While sparring at Pat Barry's Boxing Center in Las Vegas, he told me, "I've got
something for him (Mosley). He's going to be surprised."
Mosley has had 15 world title bouts in his career and has won all but two of
them. Both losses at the hands of Vernon Forrest. Mosley, 38-2 with 35
knockouts, boxes out of Pomona, CA.
Marquez, a former world champion, started his championship reign back on March
6, 1996 when he defeated Skipper Kelp for the USBA light middleweight title. He
then picked up the IBF light middleweight title on April 5, 1997.
Marquez successfully defended his world title twice before losing it to Yory Boy
Campas on Dec. 6, 1997. Marquez made an unsuccessful attempt to regain the IBF
title when he challenged Fernando Vargas on July 17, 1999. Vargas stopped
Marquez in the 11th round.
Marquez did not fight at all in 2000 but jump-started his career by winning
three times in 2001 and once in 2002. With four straight wins after the Vargas
loss, Marquez knows he is ready for Mosley.
The question may be, is Mosley ready for Marquez?
Marquez (34-2, 23 knockouts) lives in Houston, Texas.
This boxing event will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Contributing bouts will include Antonio Margarito (27-3, 18 KO’s) defending his
WBO welterweight crown against former champion Andrew “Six Heads’ Lewis (22-1,
19 KO’s).
A total of 6 bouts are scheduled for the evening, the first bout starting at
5:30 p.m. local time.
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