Mosley, Marquez Get in No-Win Situation

The frustration of the evening was best symbolized by a pocket flashlight. It was hurled by a fan over the Mandalay Bay Events Center ring into the first row of seats on the opposite side at the conclusion of Saturday night’s main event.

The fan’s aim was as bad as his sense of responsibility, but his feelings were right on target.

Nearly everyone left the arena in frustration after the Shane Mosley-Raul Marquez bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, was stopped at 2:41 of the third because of two accidental head butts for a no-decision verdict.

Mosley, who was making his debut at 154 pounds and wanted to look impressive in order to get more money for a proposed match against Oscar De La Hoya, was frustrated.

Marquez, who was hoping to pull off a major upset and earn himself a big money fight, was frustrated.

The crowd of nearly 4,942, which booed heartily at the announcement of the no-decision, was frustrated.

“It wasn’t satisfying,” Mosley said. “But in a way, it was satisfying, because I knew he wanted to get out of there and this was his way.”

Perhaps only Bob Arum, who left immediately after the match to attend a charity event without making a comment, was satisfied. He has a tentative agreement with Mosley for a $4.5-million purse to face De La Hoya on Sept. 13. De La Hoya would receive $12 million. With Mosley refusing to sign the contract, Arum is negotiating with Fernando Vargas to be an alternative opponent.

Although he didn’t put on the dominating performance he needed to bolster his bid for more money, Mosley, who made $2 million Saturday night to Marquez’ $300,000, didn’t back down after the fight.

“I am going to take a few days off,” Mosley said, “and then we’ll negotiate. There is still four to five million left in the wings. Bob Arum wants to get that money for himself.”

And what if Arum goes ahead and signs Vargas?

“If he is talking to Vargas,” Mosley said, “then that is obviously the path he wants to take.”

Because he got less than three rounds of work Saturday, Mosley said he would want another fight, in May, before facing De La Hoya in September.

Mosley, 38-2 and coming off two losses to Vernon Forrest, certainly didn’t appear to lack for confidence against Marquez (34-2). He won the first two rounds on all scorecards. The speed wasn’t there, but Mosley said that was by design.

“I was throwing power at him,” Mosley said. “I didn’t throw speed at him. I wanted to show I have power at junior-middleweight.”

The first butt opened a cut over the right eye of Marquez, a notorious bleeder. It wasn’t serious enough to end the fight, but it was deep enough to throw Marquez into a rage, costing him his focus. He pointed at the ever-widening streak of blood above his right eye and screamed at Mosley.

Later in the round, it happened again, but replays showed it was Marquez who initiated the banging of heads.

And Marquez conceded as much in the postfight news conference.

“I probably caused the second one,” he said, “because I tried to get him out of there. That’s what happens when a lefty meets a righty.”

While Mosley questioned whether Marquez wanted to continue, William Berliner, the ringside physician who advised referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight, had no doubt Marquez couldn’t continue.

“The cut was down to the bone,” Berliner said. “He was pouring blood. It was beyond bleeding.”

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In the semi-main event, Antonio Margarito (28-3, 19 knockouts) defended his World Boxing Assn. welterweight title by unleashing an eight-punch barrage to finish off Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis (22-2-1) at 2:31 of the second round.