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http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3613605

Mosley knocks out Mayorga to win junior middleweight fight
Associated Press

Updated: September 28, 2008, 1:31 AM ET

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 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.


Gus Ruelas/AP

Shane Mosley, left, used a well-timed left hook to disconnect Ricardo
Mayorga from his senses in Round 12.

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 10½ 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 weighed 153½ 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.

"We had our share of rabbit punches, but he was definitely doing it
more. We also exchanged some head butts, but it didn't matter in the
end."

Regarding his future, 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."



I have to try and find fights now. I don't want to wait around for
[Miguel] Cotto and [Antonio] Margarito. I know they have plans.
--Shane Mosley

Speaking through a translator, 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 with 38 knockouts, hadn't fought since losing a close but
unanimous 12-round decision to Cotto for the WBA welterweight
championship at Madison Square Garden 10½ 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 by putting his hand
through a glass shower door.

Mayorga, 28-7-1, hadn't fought since winning a majority 12-round
decision over Vargas 10 months ago. That was his first outing in more
than 18 months; he was stopped by De La Hoya in the sixth round of
their WBC junior middleweight title bout on May 6, 2006.

The 37-year-old Mosley, who was heavily favored, will receive a
guaranteed $1.5 million; the 35-year-old Mayorga was guaranteed
$550,000.

The crowd was pro-Mosley -- no surprise since he grew up in nearby
Pomona, and as the first round came to an end, the fans began chanting
"Mosley, Mosley!" When the round ended, Mayorga stood on the ring
buckle in his corner and thrust his fist into the air in an act of
defiance.

Mosley landed a solid right in the fourth round, snapping Mayorga's
head back and prompting the fans to begin another chant.

Midway through the fifth, Mayorga caught Mosley with a punch to the
back of the head, and Mosley barked at his opponent before landing
several solid punches. Then, as the round ended, the two barked at
each other.

Mayorga, a three-time former world champion from Nicaragua, reacted
like he had been poked in the eye in the sixth, and Mosley responded
by rolling his eyes before going back on the attack.

The action slowed after that, and even the crowd had a difficult time
getting into it, with some starting to boo late in the 10th round.
Mosley landed a solid right midway through the 11th, but Mayorga
responded by playing to the crowd, making it clear he wasn't hurt.

Finally, the action picked up in the 12th.

Earlier Saturday night, unbeaten Andre Berto of Winter Haven, Fla.,
scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Steve Forbes of Las Vegas to
retain his WBC welterweight title. Two judges scored the bout 118-109
and the other 116-111.

The 25-year-old Berto, who earned $300,000, raised his record to 23-0
with 19 knockouts. The 31-year-old Forbes, who earned $150,000, is
33-7 with nine knockouts. Berto weighed 145½ pounds and Forbes the
maximum 147 pounds. There were no knockdowns.

"I started to dominate in the fifth and sixth rounds, and it was my
speed that won it," Berto said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press