BIG BEAR, CA (July 7, 2003) - It has taken over three years to get here, but it is just T-minus nine
weeks and counting until the long-awaited rematch between
two-time world champion SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY and Oscar De La Hoya. Sugar Shane won
their June 17, 2000 rumble, via a dominant 12-round decision, and with it,
Oscar's WBC welterweight title. Their epic HBO Pay-Per View battle will take
place Saturday, September 13, at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, NV.Sugar Shane and his father and trainer, Jack Mosley, are even more confident this time around as they begin the first full-week of training camp at their Big Bear compound.
"I keep seeing and hearing the words 'redemption' and 'revenge' in all the promotional materials about this fight," said Sugar Shane Mosley. "I guess the marketing is geared toward Oscar and his fans because revenge is not in my heart nor do I have any need for redemption. I took the best Oscar had the night we fought and I gave it back even better. I won the fight and I won his title. My mantra for the next nine weeks is 'repeat.'"
"I was comparing the 2000 tale-of-the-tape between Sugar Shane and Oscar with the one for their upcoming September fight," said Sugar Shane's promoter, Gary Shaw. "Other than the addition of seven pounds and Oscar's WBC/WBA super welterweight titles on the line, the only meaningful details that have changed are that Sugar Shane is 1-0 against Oscar and Oscar is 0-1 against Shane, and Oscar has a different trainer. It is a privilege to be part of Sugar Shane and Jack's family. The love, respect and loyalty they show each other is inspiring. No blame game or excuses from either of them. They are real men inside and outside the ring."
As Michael Hirsley wrote in his Father's Day column on Sugar Shane and Jack last month in the Chicago Tribune, "In life, every son wants his dad in his corner. But in boxing, it's not always best to literally have his father in his corner as his trainer."
Sugar Shane, 31, from Pomona in Southern California, has had his father in his boxing corner for 23 years and two world title runs. What is the secret of the Mosleys success?
"I am proud of the son I raised and the brother, husband and father he has become," said Jack Mosley. "I don't care how many titles he wins, the legacy Shane's mom and I are most proud of is the good person you see today. My philosophy in the gym has been no different than when we all lived together at home. 'Work hard and give it your best effort. I will always be there to help you.' We don't just train as a team, but as a family unit. When Shane is in the ring, he's fighting for himself, not for me or anyone else. I'm only there to help and let him know his Pop is behind him and loves him. The Mosley family has always been there for each other. Maybe that's why he is so strong in the ring and fights with such confidence."
"I love working with Pop," said Sugar Shane. "Growing up we were more than just father and son. We were best friends. We still are. But now I like to kid him that he is more like my little brother. We really like to give it to each other. But more importantly, even if we disagree, we always listen to each other. Pop is selfless. I have never heard him take credit for my accomplishments. Oh he'll brag about them - but he will never take the credit. But I certainly wouldn't be where I am or who I am without him. I am a very proud son."
Sugar Shane, 38-2 (35 KOs), captured the IBF lightweight title in 1997, dethroning Philip Holiday via a 12-round unanimous decision. He successfully defended the title eight times - all by knockout - during his two-year reign before vacating the title to move up to the welterweight division. After he took the WBC welterweight title off of De La Hoya in 2000, he successfully defended the title three times - all by knockout - before losing it to Vernon Forrest via a decision in 2002.