Las Vegas, Sept 12: Oscar de La Hoya tries to avenge one of only two career defeats tomorrow as he defends his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association Super Welterweight titles against Shane Mosley.
Mosley, who boasts a record of 38 wins and two defeats, with 35 victories inside the distance, clearly outboxed and outpunched de La Hoya in June 2000 en route to a split decision in Los Angeles. Not only did Mosley capture the World Boxing Council Welterweight title, he also immediately was considered among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. But after dropping consecutive decisions to Vernon Forrest, who since has lost the belt, Mosley enters this bout as the underdog.

The 30-year-old de La Hoya brings a record of 36-2, with 29 wins inside the distance. He rebounded from the loss to Mosley by battering Arturo Gatti en route to a fifth-round stoppage in March 2001.



Three months later, he moved up to 154 pounds and captured the WBC Super Welterweight title with a unanimous decision over an outclassed Javier Castillejo.



While the victory did not return all the gloss to the golden boy's reputation, his convincing 11th-round stoppage of Fernando Vargas last September for the WBA strap did.



After ignoring several challenges from Vargas, de La Hoya finally met and outbrawled his fellow Mexican-American.



After showing the ability to slug it out, de La Hoya displayed his superior hand speed and tuned up for Mosley by posting a seventh-round TKO over Yory Boy Campas in May.


Bureau Report