Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

De La Hoya: Mosley offer still on table

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Oscar De La Hoya wants to give Shane Mosley more time to think it over.

De La Hoya, the WBA/WBC super welterweight champion, encouraged Top Rank president Bob Arum on Monday not to withdraw a $4.25 million offer to Mosley for a proposed Sept. 13 matchup, Arum said.

Mosley has balked at accepting the offer because he made $4.5 million when he defeated De La Hoya on June 17, 2000.

"Oscar said to give (Mosley) time to accept it but not to change it and not to negotiate at all," Arum said. "If he doesn't take it, we'll go on to the next guy."

That would be former WBA champion Fernando Vargas, whom De La Hoya knocked out Sept. 14 at Mandalay Bay, a bout that compiled 950,000 pay-per-view sales. De La Hoya's fight with Mosley did about 580,000 pay per views.

In his last three fights, Mosley is 0-2 with a no-contest Saturday against Raul Marquez at Mandalay Bay. Mosley hasn't looked good in any of the bouts, greatly reducing his bargaining power.

His promoter, Barry Frank of IMG Boxing, said he thinks there is no more money on the table and that Mosley should accept the offer or make alternate plans.