Mosley’s a Real Knockout in His Welterweight Debut

Were you watching, Oscar? Were you listening, Felix?

There’s a new kid on the welterweight block. His name is Shane Mosley and he made his presence known at around 9:30 Saturday night at the Pechanga Entertainment Center, exploding on the scene with a dramatic knockout of Wilfredo Rivera.

One week after Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, considered the two best welterweights in the world, struggled through 12 rounds with Trinidad winning on a majority decision, Mosley, locked in a tight struggle of his own, reached back for one last flurry to end his fight with 22 seconds remaining in the 10th and final round.

It was an impressive performance for Mosley, who was jumping up two weight classes, from 135 to 147, and making his welterweight debut against a proven veteran who had never been knocked out.

“That is the way a champion is supposed to close the show,” said Cedric Kushner, Mosley’s promoter.

“That is is what the other two [De La Hoya and Trinidad] couldn’t do, were afraid to do.”

It hadn’t been an easy night for Mosley, who improved to 33-0 with 31 knockouts. He had struggled in the middle rounds and needed to win the last round to get the victory.

Only one judge, Pat Russell, had Mosley comfortably ahead heading into the final round, giving Mosley an 88-83 edge.

Judge Lou Moret had Mosley ahead, 86-85.

Judge Marty Denkin had the fight even going into the last round, 86-86.

The Times had Mosley ahead, 86-85, through nine rounds.

“I thought I was ahead,” said Mosley, who earned $760,000. “But I didn’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges.

“I feel good. I feel strong. Tonight, I proved I had welterweight power. I beat a world-class welterweight.”

Indeed, Rivera (30-4-1 with 19 knockouts), who earned $140,000, had previously lost to only De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker (twice).

“He has a hard punch,” said Rivera, a Puerto Rican native. “He is the only man who has been able to stop me.”

Mosley, who gave up the International Boxing Federation lightweight title to join the welterweights, quickly learned the difference after opening the first round with a furious flurry.

“He was taller and heavy,” Mosley said. “He tried to take away my energy.”

But finally, in the 10th, with time running out, Mosley connected with a jab and a straight right hand. He tried to add a left uppercut to the attack, but Rivera was already on his way to the canvas.

And Mosley was on his way to a prominent spot in the already crowded welterweight division.

“I’m ready for Oscar,” Mosley said. “But he may be going on vacation so I’m also ready for Tito [Trinidad] or any other welterweight.”

In the semi-main event, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (29-1-1, 19 knockouts) of South Africa defended his International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight title via a fifth-round TKO over Edison Valencia (14-4, 13 knockouts) of Colombia.

Referee Gwen Adair stopped the bout at the 2:31 mark of the round after Valencia had already been knocked down once in the round.

Adair made boxing history with her appearance, becoming the first woman to referee a fight in the United States with a major title at stake.

In a preliminary fight, Daniel Lynem (10-0, eight knockouts) won the vacant California junior welterweight crown by decisioning Jose Reynoso (8-7-2, six knockouts).