Mosley Wins Weight-ing Game

Much has been made of Oscar De La Hoya’s size advantage over Shane Mosley, whom he will face in tonight’s welterweight showdown at Staples Center.

De La Hoya has a two- to three-inch height advantage, depending on whom you believe, and is facing an opponent who has had only two fights in the welterweight division after jumping up two weight classes, from 135 pounds to 147.

But on the scales at Friday’s weigh-in, it was Mosley who had the edge, coming in at 147. De La Hoya weighed 146 1/2.

PUNCHLESS, POINTLESS

Marty Denkin was outraged.

The California referee and judge had just watched 22-year-old Laila Ali demolish 48-year-old Marjorie Jones on Thursday night at the Universal Amphitheatre.

Women’s boxing is supposed to be entertainment, but watching Ali, daughter of three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, finish off Jones in one minute eight seconds was about as entertaining as watching a car crash.

Giving Ali a license to fight Jones, who couldn’t seem to grasp the concept of throwing a punch, was like awarding a license to kill.

“I was embarrassed for the [California] commission,” Denkin said. “I was embarrassed for Ali. I was embarrassed for the sport. And I was embarrassed for the referee. I was ashamed for everybody.

“This was not even a mismatch. It wasn’t that good. To have a show go on just to make money is not valid.

“The commission has two major responsibilities. One is safety. The other is to see that the public is not defrauded. When we approved that match, I believe we defrauded the public.”

Considered to be among the best boxing officials in the country, Dean Lohuis, the California commission’s chief inspector, doesn’t dispute Denkin’s description of Jones, but says he often must depend on others to assess a fighter’s qualifications.

Especially when the fighter is from out of the area, as was the case with Jones, a Milwaukee resident.

“It was a vaudeville act out there,” said Lohuis of the Ali-Jones fiasco. “When approving Jones, I checked with sources and they assured me she could fight. Another consideration was that she had a first-round knockout in January.

“I was told [Jones] could hold her hands up, but, as it turned out, she could not. Obviously, my sources were wrong.”

Jones was the third option for Ali. After the two other possible opponents dropped out, including the girlfriend of Jones’ son, she stepped in with her 2-4-1 record and two years of fighting experience.

“My job is to deliver competitive fights,” Lohuis said. “Obviously, [Thursday] night was not competitive. We have to do the job we can with the resources we have.”

Promoter Bob Arum thinks John McClain, the promoter of Thursday night’s show, also must be held accountable.

“To let that show go on was horrible, horrible,” Arum said. “But I don’t necessarily blame the commission. The damn promoter has to take some responsibility. The people promoting Laila are doing her a big disservice by scheduling an opponent like that.”

THE GOOD NEWS

Former two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman was thrilled to hear that Jones’ knockout came against LaQuanda Landers.

Landers will be fighting Sunday at the Regent Las Vegas hotel against George’s daughter, Freeda.

THE REST OF TONIGHT

While all the attention has been focused on De La Hoya and Mosley, there are two other excellent fighters on tonight’s card at Staples Center.

Diego Corrales (31-0, 25 knockouts) will defend his International Boxing Assn. junior lightweight title against Justin Juuko (34-3-1, 25).

And Erik Morales (36-0, 28), who has been the World Boxing Council super bantamweight champion, moves up to featherweight to take on Mike Juarez (22-8-1, 9) in a 10-round bout.

Also on the card will be Shannon Taylor (26-0-1, 17), the WBC’s No. 2-ranked welterweight, against Charles Whittaker (17-8, 11).

And finally, Arum’s twin novelty acts will be in action. Super heavyweight Eric “Butterbean” Esch (57-1-2, 44) will fight Kerry Biles (2-1, 1) in a four-rounder, and Mia St. John (17-0, 9) will take on Linda Robinson (3-0, 2) in a four-round women’s bout.

QUICK JABS

Staples Center officials announced Friday that, with the ring in place, they have determined that some additional seats are now available. Priced at $900-$500-$300, the seats can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Arum publicist Bill Caplan, trying to boost up his boss in comparison with a certain unmentioned rival promoter, said, “You have never stolen from your fighters.” Replied Arum, “No, only from the public.” That was supposed to be a joke.