He Refuses to Cast the First Stone

At Wednesday’s kickoff news conference at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace, Shane Mosley had a message for Adrian Stone, the man against whom he will defend his World Boxing Council welterweight title tonight.

I’m going to take your head off?

You will rue the day you stepped into the ring against me?

You will have to kill me to beat me?

No, none of those things. Instead, Mosley smiled and said, “I’d like to say happy birthday to Adrian Stone.”

It was all love and kisses, with Mosley describing Stone as “a very nice guy” and “a tremendous person,” treating Stone more like a sparring partner than a man determined to take his title.

Which is fitting, since Stone (30-3-2, 23 knockouts) figures to offer Mosley (37-0, 34) little more than a glorified sparring session in tonight’s main event.

Stone, of Bristol, England, has won his last seven fights against Darren Covill, Benji Singleton, Michael Corleone, Michael Carruth, Geoff McCreesh, Derek Roche and Joe Townsley. If you’ve heard of any of them, consider yourself a boxing expert.

The most recognizable foe Stone has faced is Vernon Forrest, possibly a future Mosley opponent, who stopped Stone in the 11th round of their 1998 fight.

Mosley’s recent opponent list isn’t exactly murderers’ row either. Since beating Oscar De La Hoya a year ago, Mosley, unable to lure a major opponent into the ring, has had to be content with Antonio Diaz, Shannan Taylor, and now Stone.

“He gets off the canvas and he’s war,” Mosley said of Stone. “He’s war to the end.”

Mosley was at least partially right. Against one of the top two fighters in the world pound-for-pound, Stone will be on the canvas.

Taking Another Shot

Fifteen months ago, 6-foot-7 Michael Grant was being heralded as the next great giant of the heavyweight division.

Then he ran into Lennox Lewis, who obliterated Grant in less than two full rounds in April 2000 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, and Grant found himself dismissed from the public’s mind as another over-hyped bust.

With a new promoter, Cedric Kushner, and a new trainer, Teddy Atlas, Grant (31-1, 22) finally returns to the ring in tonight’s 10-round semi-main event, facing Jameel McCline (25-2-3, 15).

“It’s wonderful being back, to be honest with you,” Grant said. “I’ve prepared myself definitely 120%. No questions. No doubting.”

De La Hoya-David Reid?

Negotiations continue for a De La Hoya-Fernando Vargas fight in December.

But if those negotiations fall through, De La Hoya has selected an alternate opponent, David Reid.

That would be unfortunate.

Yes, Vargas’ stock has plummeted since he was beaten into submission by Felix Trinidad in December and was knocked down by light-hitting Wilfredo Rivera in May, Vargas surviving to win by technical knockout.

De La Hoya, who has looked sharper and more dedicated in his two fights under trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., would be a clear favorite over Vargas, who first must get by Jose “Shibata” Flores, World Boxing Assn. 154-pound champion, Sept. 22 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.

But at least De La Hoya-Vargas would be entertaining. The animosity between these two Southern Californians is genuine. With all the trash-talking that figures to flow from the moment the contracts are signed, they might not need a publicist.

Vargas may go down, but at least he’ll go down fighting. And talking.

Reid is another matter. His credentials are solid. He is the only American fighter who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and is a former WBA 154-pound champion himself.

Like Vargas, Reid appears to be damaged goods after undergoing a Trinidad beating of his own. But Reid appears to be truly damaged, a shot fighter who may be risking his long-term well-being by staying in the ring.

De La Hoya is on record as saying he’s ready for one of the big three--Trinidad, Vargas or Mosley.

With Trinidad having moved to 160 pounds and looking to go even heavier, De La Hoya’s greatest challenge is Mosley.

If De La Hoya wants to go for Vargas, fine.

But if they can’t get together, ducking Mosley to fight a shattered Reid would be a disgrace.

Smoke and Mirrors

On paper, next Saturday’s light-heavyweight title fight between Roy Jones and Julio Gonzalez at Staples Center appears to be a mismatch.

Which makes the efforts of promoter Bob Arum and publicist Bill Caplan all the more impressive. They are doing their best to turn this into the match of the century.

Wednesday’s kickoff news conference will be held on the steps of city hall, no less. The public is invited to the event, which begins at 1 p.m. on the Spring Street side.

Friday’s weigh-in, also open to the public, will be held outdoors at the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City starting at 1 p.m. and hosted by actor Robert Wuhl, better known as television’s “Arliss.”

If only the fight could be this good.

Must Viewing

Sunday, the Arts and Entertainment television network presents “Boxing: In and Out of the Ring,” a fascinating look at the sport.

There’s nothing particularly new here. The attraction is the up-close view.

A&E; cameras followed Kushner as he tried to arrange a heavyweight title rematch between Lewis and Hasim Rahman. What those cameras recorded instead was the utter devastation in Kushner’s life as rival promoter Don King stepped in and lured Rahman away.

Also on camera is a peephole look at Bob Lee, former International Boxing Federation president, accepting bribes and rigging his ratings.

You’ve heard it all before, but you’ve never seen it quite like this.

Quick Jab

Boxing will return to the Great Western Forum Aug. 17 after an absence of nearly two years. Promoter Ken Thompson hopes to stage several shows a year there.