Mosley to Fight De La Hoya

The Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley rematch is set.

Again.

Mosley, who backed out of an earlier deal, has approved an agreement brokered by attorney Judd Burstein, which could earn Mosley at least $12.5 million for three fights. But that is contingent on Mosley winning the first two of those matches, beginning with a second De La Hoya fight Sept. 13, for which Mosley will receive a $4.5-million guarantee.

Even as Mosley prepares to sign the contract, however, uncertainty has arisen over the site of the rematch. Staples Center, with a site-fee offer of around $7 million, has long been the front-runner but now the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has come up with a similar offer.

De La Hoya’s promoter, Bob Arum, says he won’t resume site negotiations until he sees Mosley’s name on the contract.

“We’ve been down this road before,” Arum said. “Let’s see what happens this time.”

Richard Schaefer, De La Hoya’s business advisor, is also being cautious because of Mosley’s U-turn the last time.

“A done deal is a signed deal,” Schaefer said.

“Nothing is different from the first time,” Mosley said. “I just decided with the economy the way it is and us being on the brink of war, I wanted to give the country something to look forward to, something to cheer about. They told me take it or leave it and I’m going to take it and I’m going to take it to them.”

The first agreement, reached several months ago, was between Arum and Barry Frank of IMG, representing Mosley. Under the original terms, De La Hoya would have received a $12-million guarantee, Mosley $4.25 million. Mosley’s guarantee would have been $250,000 less than he was given in June 2000 when he beat De La Hoya by split decision at Staples Center.

Although the deal was agreed to in principle between Arum and Frank, Mosley, after first agreeing as well, balked, refusing to accept less than he had been guaranteed for the first fight.

Mosley reached out to De La Hoya, saying a phone conversation between them could break the impasse. De La Hoya did talk to Mosley, offering to take $500,000 out of his guarantee and put it in a winner-take-all pot.

That didn’t satisfy Mosley.

In stepped Burstein, who also represents heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Granted the right to negotiate by IMG, Burstein put together this package:

* The guarantee of $4.5 million, giving Mosley what he made for the first fight. Still to be determined is whether Arum, De La Hoya or HBO, or some combination thereof, will put in the additional $250,000.

* The $500,000 offered by De La Hoya will go to the winner.

* A guaranteed licensing fee by HBO of $2.5 million for Mosley’s next fight, should he defeat De La Hoya. If Mosley loses, he will receive $500,000 for his first fight after the De La Hoya rematch.

* A guaranteed $5 million from Arum for a third Mosley fight should he win the De La Hoya rematch and his subsequent fight.

* A slight adjustment on the pay-per-view income, lowering the threshold at which additional income kicks in for Mosley from 700,000 to 600,000 buys and increasing the amount received per buyer from $1 to $2.50.

Still to be determined is whether Mosley will fight before Sept. 13. He lost both his fights last year to Vernon Forrest, then got in less than three full rounds last month against Raul Marquez before that fight was stopped because of unintentional head butts, so Mosley wants more ring time before fighting De La Hoya. De La Hoya will have a tuneup fight May 3 against Yory Boy Campas.

HBO has told Mosley that it doesn’t have an available date, meaning Mosley would have to find another outlet.

Either way, Sept. 13 is on.