Mosley, Trinidad Are Discussing Fight

With both of their negotiations for an Oscar De La Hoya fight collapsing, Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad have begun serious discussions about fighting each other, probably at 160 pounds, in the fall.

Any agreement will be contingent on Mosley’s beating Winky Wright in their March 13 match for the undisputed 154-pound championship. Trinidad has been inactive since May 2002.

“Oscar believes he can demand the terms,” said Gary Shaw, Mosley’s promoter, “but these are proud guys who are not going to agree to that.”

De La Hoya has fought Mosley twice, Trinidad once, and lost all three matches.

De La Hoya, who has committed to a June 5 date, had turned to another foe, Fernando Vargas, whom he beat on an 11th-round technical knockout in September 2002. But negotiations for De La Hoya-Vargas II have also broken down.

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Although he hasn’t informed his American network, HBO, nor any of his former American representatives, heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is expected to announce his long-anticipated retirement today at a London news conference.

The BBC and other British media have confirmed that Lewis, the World Boxing Council champion and the almost universally recognized heavyweight champ, will end his 14-year career today at 38.

“Lennox has been a great champion,” said Shaw, who served as Lewis’ promoter for his last fight, “the best of the decade. He has always been his own person, always made his own decisions. If it is true what I’m reading, I guess he’s going to hang up his gloves.”

If he does retire, Lewis leaves as the dominant heavyweight of his era, a three-time champion with a 41-2-1 record with 32 knockouts.

But despite all that, he would leave with a legacy as a good, but not great champion, largely because his timing was not as good outside the ring as it was within the ropes.

And because he often tried to coast on his talent, more anxious to sit in front of a chess board than a heavy bag.

By the time Lewis beat Mike Tyson, who had avoided Lewis earlier in his career, Tyson was old and shot.

By the time Lewis fought a controversial draw and then gained a victory in the rematch against Evander Holyfield, Holyfield, too, was past his prime.

Lewis got careless against Oliver McCall and came in out of shape against Hasim Rahman, allowing both clearly inferior opponents to knock Lewis out.

And last June at Staples Center, Lewis again appeared out of shape as he struggled to beat Vitali Klitschko, Lewis winning even though he was behind on points when the fight was stopped after six rounds because of a deep cut on Klitschko’s left eyelid.

Said promoter Dan Goossen of Lewis’ apparent retirement, “He knew when to get out.”