They’re Ready for Round II

Will Oscar De La Hoya, who said in an emotional outburst after Saturday night’s loss to Shane Mosley in a welterweight title fight that he was considering retirement, agree to a rematch?

Absolutely, says Bob Arum, De La Hoya’s promoter.

Will trainer Robert Alcazar remain in charge of De La Hoya’s corner?

That appears less certain with Alcazar becoming the focal point of criticism after De La Hoya’s defeat by split decision at Staples Center.

Of the likelihood of De La Hoya’s return, Arum, after talking to his fighter, said Wednesday: “There is not a doubt, not in my mind. He’s not ready to tell me that yet, but I think he will be in a week to 10 days.”

As for Alcazar:

* Arum, after claiming in the postfight news conference that De La Hoya couldn’t get a break from the officials, now blames De La Hoya’s loss on his failure to adjust in the ring. Translation: Alcazar.

* A source close to De La Hoya said Alcazar and Joel De La Hoya Jr., Oscar’s brother, had an exchange in the dressing room after Saturday’s fight over strategy.

* Arum says a list of possible trainers has been assembled for De La Hoya, but no decision has yet been reached on Alcazar’s fate.

* San Fernando Valley-based trainer Joe Goossen, who has been in the corner of champions from Michael Nunn to Rafael and Gabriel Ruelas to current World Boxing Assn. super featherweight titleholder Joel Casamayor, has expressed an interest in becoming De La Hoya’s trainer, but Arum says that will never happen.

* The name of Jesus Rivero, a previous De La Hoya trainer, has resurfaced in the De La Hoya camp.

“Jack Mosley [Shane’s father/trainer] changed his style because his son was getting beat,” Arum said. “Mosley has a corner that knows what’s happening. He adjusted four or five times in the fight. You have to adjust as well. You can’t come in with one style and stick to it no matter what the other guy does. That’s crazy, preposterous.”

“Mosley was going straight back and, after six rounds, he was losing. But then he changed and went side to side. Oscar kept coming, kept fighting flat-footed, and got hit with so many rights I couldn’t believe it. You’ve got to put Oscar on his toes. You’ve got to make him move. You’ve got to make him jab.”

So is Arum recommending that Alcazar, who has survived trainer after trainer to remain with De La Hoya throughout his career, be replaced?

“It’s not for me to say,” said Arum, after having all but done so.

The Alcazar-Joel De La Hoya confrontation followed an exchange at ringside during the fight. Joel pointed out that Mosley had changed his strategy and Alcazar replied that he had everything “under control.”

Goossen says he talked to someone he wouldn’t name in Arum’s Top Rank organization who conceded that De La Hoya needs a new voice in his corner.

“What NBA or NFL coach who was down 10 to 15 points at halftime would not then make adjustments? What coach could survive that?” Goossen said. “If you have a guy making $20 million in the ring, you better have $20 million worth of training in the corner.

“I’m not campaigning for the job, but if Oscar made a gesture to me, I would work for him at such a cut-rate that it would literally be for free. I want to see him get back on top.

“Oscar has had a lot of yes men propped up in his corner. He knows I wouldn’t be there to be a yes man. I guarantee you I wouldn’t screw up so bad that he would lose a fight like the one he lost to Mosley. He was led like a lamb to slaughter.”

Whatever Alcazar’s fate, he won’t be replaced by Goossen, said Arum, who has had a bitter rivalry with Goossen’s brother, Dan, head of the America Presents boxing organization.

“Rumors of Joe Goossen coming in are absolutely, totally false,” Arum said. “It’s an absolute outrage. The last guy Oscar would select is Joe Goossen. Joe is just trying to drum up cheap publicity for himself. He should be ashamed of himself.”

Said Dan Goossen: “The whole thing is, Oscar needs more in a trainer. Nothing against Alcazar, because I blame Bob as much. He knew that, in Shane, Oscar was going in against a real fighter.”

If there is indeed a rematch, it will be held in either October, November, or possibly not until February, according to Arum.

But it will be held as long as De La Hoya laces the gloves again. Arum insisted that Mosley agree to the rematch at the same time the first fight was agreed on.

Mosley would receive $12 million for a second fight with his promoter, Cedric Kushner, getting his share out of that amount. De La Hoya’s purse is still to be negotiated.

Also to be negotiated is the site.

Staples Center, which sold out 20,744 seats for Saturday’s fight, is interested in a rematch. But so are three Las Vegas hotels: Mandalay Bay, Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand.

After Saturday’s fight, Arum remains enthusiastic about Staples as a fight site.

“They are the best arena people I have ever worked with,” Arum said. “They were just a pleasure to deal with. Not a cross word was exchanged between us.”

But Arum remains skeptical that Staples can continue to attract big fights if tax relief is not granted boxing promoters. California taxes promoters 5% and the city of Los Angeles adds a 3% assessment.

“You’re deciding,” Arum said, “between 4% in Nevada or 8% in California.”