By Stephen S. Johnson
(INSIDE BOXING) The WBC Welterweight (147 lb.) Champion, "Sugar"
Shane Mosley, is not
waiting for Oscar De La Hoya to "call the shots"
in a rematch with him. Instead, Mosley has made a "more than fair"
offer of 50-50 split of purses in what would be a barn-burner of a rematch
between arguably two of the best boxers in the world.
Whether $10 million or $12 million each, there will be no lopsided concessions made by the Mosley camp in order for De La Hoya to get revenge against one of the fighters possessing a blemish on his professional boxing record.
Saturday night in a bout telecast by HBO, Mosley was his usual spectacular self in destroying Adrian Stone of England. The third round knockout of Stone came with a left, right, left, right, left combination that was as beautiful one as you will ever see.
But there seems to be a few critics who continue to see Mosley as a fighter who refuses to fight any top welterweight unless certain monetary demands are met.
The current IBF welterweight champion, Vernon Forrest, has been reluctant to fight Mosley until recently, and only when he talks of a huge payday. WBA welterweight champion Andrew "Six-Heads" Lewis also wants big money in a battle with Mosley.
Mosley now possesses a record of 38-0, 35 KO's. Other than Oscar De La Hoya his list of victims are not household names. But why should that entitle any opponent of his a large sum of money?
Regardless of what the Larry Merchants of the world think, Shane Mosley has the benefit of having his father both train and manage his career. The elder Mosley realizes the necessity of Oscar De La Hoya to vindicate himself in a rematch with his son.
Having made $3.5 million Saturday night, "Sugar" Shane Mosley is certainly far from a pauper. Giving Oscar De La Hoya a rematch for anything less than a 50-50 proposition demeans the abilities of "Sugar" Shane.
This only the beginning of what will be very interesting negotiations between the Mosley and De La Hoya people. The first fight had De La Hoya making some $15 million dollars while Mosley pulled in a whopping $4.5 million.
After De La Hoya beat Javier Castillejo to gain a portion of the junior middleweight crown, he claimed he was now in the drivers seat in a rematch with either Mosley or Trinidad. The two fighters who blemish the De La Hoya record currently have bigger, but not necessarily as lucrative, fish to fry.
"Sugar" Shane Mosley has both the IBF and WBA welterweight titles in his sights. Fights against Forrest, Lewis or both can easily be his focus. Unifying the welterweight division can be comfortable financially.
Felix Trinidad is readying for a September 15th battle with Bernard Hopkins that will make him the undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World should he be victorious. Any fight after that will leave him comfortable financially.
Being patient is the strategy of both Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley. The talent pool for either of these two is much larger than that of Oscar De La Hoya. The less interest they have in De La Hoya the more obsession he has for them.
Oscar De La Hoya needs "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Oscar De La Hoya needs Felix Trinidad. He knows this, but clearly sees himself as the big draw. His vision is just as clearly severely impaired.
If he doesn't realize that very soon and take the contract offer he may find himself waiting in line to get a shot at Mosley. There is no possibility Trinidad will take a 50-50 proposition like the one offered by Mosley.
This puts De La Hoya in a real predicament. To do battle with Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad or both, Oscar De La Hoya will be the one accepting terms not dictating them.
Clearly, Shane Mosley, his father and promoter Cedric Kushner realize just what is going on and will not be goaded into anything suggested by the Larry Merchants of the world.
The chance at redemption awaits De La Hoya. What's it gonna' be? Does he seek money or vindication? We will know in the weeks to come.