Mosley stops Mayorga in battle of former champs

CARSON, Calif. -- Shane Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga with one second left in the 12th round of their junior middleweight bout Saturday night to possibly put himself in line for a title shot.

Neither fighter appeared seriously hurt before Mosley floored fellow former world champion Mayorga with about 15 seconds left in the final round. Mayorga staggered to his feet and took the mandatory eight count before a short left put him down again.

There was no way Mayorga was going to get up after that. Referee David Mendoza stopped the bout just before it was going to end in a decision.

Mosley led by one point on judge Nelson Vasquez's scorecard and five on Tony Crebs' entering the 12th round. Mayorga had a one-point lead on judge Pat Russell's card. The Associated Press had Mosley ahead by three points entering the 12th.

Antonio Margarito watched the fight from ringside. Mosley, a former four-time world champion, has lobbied for a shot at Margarito, who stopped Miguel Cotto on July 26 in Las Vegas to win the WBA welterweight championship. Cotto earned the title by scoring a close but unanimous 12-round decision over Mosley 101/2 months ago.

"Mayorga is a tough fighter, he took some good shots," Mosley said. "But I wore him down. He was a lot heavier than me. He put on at least 10 pounds."

Both fighters were 1531/2 pounds at Friday's weigh-in.

"I caught him with the side of my right hand and an uppercut so I knew I hurt him, and he got wobbly," Mosley said. "I felt him getting weaker during the fight, but he was trying to stay strong. I felt I was winning the fight and he stole a few rounds. But I wanted the knockout. I wanted to give the fans what they deserved, and that was a knockout."

Regarding his future, the 37-year-old Mosley said: "I have to try and find fights now. I don't want to wait around for Cotto and Margarito. I know they have plans. I know Margarito is here watching. It was interesting."

Speaking through an interpreter, Mayorga said: "I was proud of the way Shane came to fight. He didn't run. I thought I was doing well, and I came out to win the 12th. But he caught me. I will tell you one thing -- he hit harder than I thought he would."

Mosley (45-5, 38 knockouts) hadn't fought since losing a close but unanimous 12-round decision to Cotto for the WBA welterweight title in New York 101/2 months ago. Mosley won his previous five fights -- two over Fernando Vargas -- and has beaten Oscar De La Hoya twice.

Mosley was supposed to return to action in May against Zab Judah, but the bout was canceled when Judah injured himself.

Mayorga (28-7-1) hadn't fought since winning a majority 12-round decision over Vargas 10 months ago. That was his first outing since he was stopped by De La Hoya in the sixth round of their WBC junior middleweight title bout in May 2006.

Also on the card, Andre Berto (23-0) scored a unanimous decision over Steve Forbes (33-7) of Las Vegas to retain his WBC welterweight title.