Former Champion Aceves Will Face Mosley Tonight

Unlike The Pond’s first boxing card, tonight’s bouts will not feature any world champions, only a former champion, Mauricio Aceves, against an aspiring one, Shane Mosley.

Aceves was the World Boxing Organization lightweight champion in 1989, but might not have won a fight since. The Mexican boxing commission says Aceves won twice in 1993, but the California State Athletic Commission would not verify those victories. Without those two victories, Aceves has lost his last seven fights and is 26-12 with 22 knockouts.

Of those seven losses, none have been by knockout and two have come in 10-round decisions to former champion Jorge Paez and to the WBO’s No. 2-ranked lightweight, Fabian Tejeda.

At the pre-fight press conference, Aceves became so disgusted with talk of Mosely being compared to Oscar De La Hoya that one of his handler’s stood up and said, “Don’t think [Aceves] is dead; he’s alive.”

Aceves, who said he has been training six months for this fight, then shouted in Spanish, “Everybody’s talking about Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley, but I’ve got the power to beat both of them.”

Mosley’s promoter Patrick Ortiz, who constantly calls his fighter the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, appeared to act nervous over the 10-round lightweight bout.

“I’m a little antsy,” Ortiz said. “This guy’s got a lot of power. I don’t think Shane’s been in against anybody with this kind of power.”

Mosley (17-0 with 16 knockouts), however, didn’t seem overly concerned with Aceves’ power.

“I know I’m in great shape and I know I’ll do a great job,” said Mosley, who hasn’t fought since April because of nose surgery.

Later, Mosley was asked who he’d like to fight next.

“I’ll fight anybody who has a world title,” he said. “I’d fight Oscar, but not for less than a million dollars.”

The featured bout on the undercard, which begins at 8 p.m., is California middleweight champion Randy Smith (15-1-2, six knockouts), another Ortiz fighter, against Armando Campas (13-12-4) of Obergon, Mexico, in a 10-rounder.

In a six-round junior welterweight bout, Mark Lewis (8-1 with six knockouts) of Palm Springs will face Ariel Cruz of Sonora, Mexico. Ringside seats are being sold for $100, with other seats going for $75, $50, $30 and $20.

The Pond’s first show in late March, which was promoted by Forum Boxing, featured three world title bouts and a former champion in Paez. It drew nearly 12,000 fans. So far, The Pond says ticket sales have been slow for tonight’s show. Ortiz said he needs to draw about 3,000 fans to break even. Regardless of how many fans show up, Ortiz said he will put on another show.