Mosley to Defend Title in Small Vegas Ballroom

In a decision raising questions about Shane Mosley’s drawing power, he will make his second World Boxing Council welterweight title defense March 10 in a 2,800-seat indoor arena at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace.

“We didn’t want to fight outdoors,” Cedric Kushner, Mosley’s promoter, said of the bout against unbeaten Australian Shannon Taylor (29-0-1) scheduled to be held in a ballroom known as the Pavilion.

Last March, WBC super-welterweight champion Felix Trinidad Jr. beat former Olympian David Reid at an outdoor ring at Caesars that seated 10,300. Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s super-featherweight title victory against Diego Corrales on Saturday drew nearly 8,000 to the MGM Grand.

Madison Square Garden, which played host to Mosley’s November title defense against Antonio Diaz in its 5,000-seat theater, expressed little interest in the Taylor bout, even though Mosley has a 36-0 record (33 knockouts) and recently won WBC boxer-of-the-year honors.

“We’re ecstatic about fighting at Caesars; there’s nothing to be upset about,” Kushner said. “Shane’s a major part of the boxing world. The Mosleys really wanted to fight in Vegas, and they’re happy we came through for them.

“Despite the fact that March is the busy time of year in Vegas and that we’re fighting one week after [Evander] Holyfield there, this will be a huge boxing event.”