Change of venue unlikely

Oscar De La Hoya insists he is concentrating on the present. But he can't help but think about the future -- or the past, for that matter -- as he prepares to return to the ring.

De La Hoya, who fights Steve Forbes on Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., is expected to meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September in a rematch of their May 5, 2007, fight at the MGM Grand Garden.

Given his 12-round split-decision loss to Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins' split-decision loss to Joe Calzaghe on April 19 and Juan Manuel Marquez's split-decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in March -- all of which occurred in Las Vegas under the umbrella of his Golden Boy Promotions -- De La Hoya was diplomatic last week when asked if he would consider asking for a change of venue for the Mayweather rematch.

The fight tentatively is scheduled for Sept. 20 at the MGM Grand Garden, though no final contracts have been signed.

"It's been a rocky road for us in Las Vegas," De La Hoya said. "But we have a lot of faith that Las Vegas will do the right thing. We're becoming an important part of Las Vegas boxing, and if you want to be big-time in boxing, you have to fight in Nevada."

Golden Boy chairman and CEO Richard Schaefer, still smarting from Hopkins' loss, said despite the latest setback for one of Golden Boy's fighters, he thinks the Nevada Athletic Commission is honest.

"I consider John Bailey (NAC chairman) a friend, along with (executive director) Keith Kizer," Schaefer said. "But I don't know about some of the judges, where they're coming from."

Said De La Hoya: "I always go in with my eyes wide open in Vegas, and we're going to open our eyes even more" for the Mayweather rematch.

De La Hoya said he has had a great training camp, and reuniting with Floyd Mayweather Sr. as his trainer will serve him well beyond Saturday, where 30,000 fans are expected to watch him fight Forbes.

"I'm training for Floyd Mayweather right now," De La Hoya said. "My focus is on Steve Forbes, but I'm preparing so I'll be in great shape to fight Mayweather in September."

• DIAZ STARTS EARLY -- David Diaz knows he's in for one of the toughest fights of his career when he faces Manny Pacquiao on June 28 at Mandalay Bay. And the Chicago native isn't wasting any time preparing for Pacquiao.

Diaz began training camp a week ago at Jabb Gym in Chicago, and he said he'll be ready to defend his WBC lightweight title in Las Vegas.

"I just want to be well-prepared and leave nothing to chance," Diaz said by phone from Chicago. "This is the biggest fight of my life."

Diaz (34-1-1, 17 knockouts) admittedly wasn't at his best the last time he fought. He scored a lackluster 10-round majority decision over Ramon Montano on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight on March 15. He knows he'll have to raise his game considerably if he is to keep his belt from Pacquiao (46-3-21, 34 KOs), who is fighting at 135 pounds for the first time.

"I think my constant pressure will be a problem for (Pacquiao)," Diaz said. "I'm going to go after him. I'm not going to change what I do."

• MOSLEY, JUDAH CLEAN -- Shane Mosley and Zab Judah tested negative for steroids and recreational drugs following pre-fight random testing by the NAC.

The welterweights will meet May 31 at Mandalay Bay, and Judah has wanted Mosley to submit to blood testing for steroids. The NAC now requires random pre-fight testing of urine samples for fighters competing in Nevada. Mosley and Judah were tested between April 12 and 15, and both came back clean.

The fighters will be tested again immediately before and after the fight.

• TOP RANK INKS BROTHERS -- Top Rank has signed brothers Lamont and Anthony Peterson to promotional contracts.

The Petersons, who are from Washington, D.C., have a combined record of 50-0. Both are top-rated contenders.

Anthony, 23, who is 26-0 with 19 knockouts, is rated the No. 1 lightweight contender by the WBO and is ranked No. 5 by the WBC and No. 10 by the IBF. He was the 2003 national Golden Gloves champion at 132 pounds.

Lamont, 24, who is 24-0 with 11 KOs, is the No. 3-ranked junior welterweight contender and is No. 6 in the WBA rankings. He was the 2001 national Golden Gloves champion at 132 pounds.

• BWAA AWARDS DINNER -- Longtime Nevada sportswriter Steve Sneddon will be honored Thursday at the 83rd annual Boxing Writers Association of America awards dinner in Los Angeles.

Sneddon, who recently retired from the Reno Gazette-Journal after 37 years, will receive the Nat Fleischer Award for career achievement in boxing journalism.

Also being honored: Floyd Mayweather Jr. as Fighter of the Year, Enzo Calzaghe as Trainer of the Year, Cameron Dunkin as Manager of the Year and the Sept. 29, 2007, bout between Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik, which Pavlik won with a dramatic seventh-round knockout, as Fight of the Year.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.