ADDING FEUD TO THE FIRE FATHER DISPUTES REASON FOR SPLIT AS MOSLEY TURNS FOCUS TO WRIGHT.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

Sugar Shane Mosley has found it difficult to explain why he fired his longtime trainer - his own father, Jack - after he was soundly beaten by Winky Wright in a March 13 junior middleweight title unification fight.

Mosley finally opened up this week, however. Then his father opened up on him.

Shane Mosley said he believes his father became distracted by his interest in the music business and therefore did not devote enough time during training.

His father, Jack, believes his son has too many people whispering nonconstructive nothings in his ear.

Then there's Mosley's wife, Jin, who grew up on the mean streets of Queens, N.Y., and acknowledges she has a say in her husband's career. But she insists she is not the reason Jack was fired.

One thing is certain. Mosley started his career 38-0 but is 1-3 with one no-contest since. He will try to regain his luster Saturday night when he squares off with Wright in the rematch in Las Vegas.

At stake will be Wright's WBC and WBA junior middleweight titles.

When Mosley (39-3, 35 KOs) steps into the ring, Reseda-based trainer Joe Goossen will be in his corner.

``I just feel like my father wasn't putting 100 percent into the fight and he was looking into music,'' Mosley, 33, told the Daily News on Wednesday. ``I thought there was a lot of people from the music industry calling him while we were training.

``It wasn't just in the fight, it was in the training part of it, too. When we got to the training, he was listening to CDs and the rappers and it was all distracting him. I know he doesn't want to believe that, but he was distracted and it played into our fights.''

To say Jack doesn't agree would be an understatement.

``I don't believe that,'' said the elder Mosley, who has started his own music label, Mo-Swing Records. ``When we worked, we worked. He played the rap music when we were training.''

Jack said the idea that he conducted music business during training hours is off-base.

``Shane is mixed up,'' Jack said. ``I never did that while we were training. I have other people doing it, not me. I have producers putting things together for me. I made sure it was not a distraction.''

THERE AT THE BEGINNING

Since Mosley was an 8-year-old amateur growing up in Pomona, Jack has trained and nurtured his talented son. At one point, he was considered by many the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world after defeating Oscar De La Hoya for the first time in June 2000.

During a phone interview Thursday, Jack became lively when discussing what he believes is the real reason he was fired.

``There are people in Shane's ear,'' Jack said. ``People all around him saying, `Oh, you need to get a new trainer.' That is what I'm hearing. It might be some people in his entourage, or some who may be friends of his entourage.

``But they weren't there at the beginning. I spent all my time getting Shane ready, and as soon as he becomes an elite fighter, everybody wants to put their two cents in.

``Where were they? We, as a family, all stuck by Shane in the beginning, and we still do now. We all struggled, we all sacrificed for 20 years to get Shane where he is. That is 20-something years of my life. Because somebody loses, `Get rid of him.' ''

Asked the names of those who might be counseling his son, Jack refused. Because of Jin Mosley's reputation as a strong-willed woman, there has been speculation she had a critical role in Jack's firing.

``I don't want to comment on her,'' Jack said of Jin. ``That's his wife.''

REUNION POSSIBLE

Jin said her husband could go back to his father. Jack said he would welcome that. Meanwhile, Goossen is the trainer who is trying to get into the head of a fighter who has been trained by his father for 242 amateur and 43 pro fights.

And Goossen must deal with Jack, who still backs Shane and welcomes him, Jin and their three children into his home with open arms.

``Early on, back in the summer, I went out to Shane's gym in Pomona and I ran into Jack,'' said Goossen, who trained former world champions Gabe and Rafael Ruelas from San Fernando. ``We all had a pleasant conversation.

``I just let Jack know that I was there only to do the best for his son and that I would protect him the way he would. I understand how he might feel about this.''

Jack isn't sure.

``Shane is my only son,'' he said. ``I don't want to cause Shane any distractions by being there. So let me back up so he can get his mind straight and get the real picture and come back like he's supposed to.

``I'm not the distraction. I wasn't then, and I'm not now.''

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

SHANE MOSLEY vs. WINKY WRIGHT

When: Saturday, 6:45 p.m.

Where: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

At stake: Wright's WBC and WBA junior welterweight titles.

TV: HBO 

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Shane Mosley has a new trainer for Saturday's rematch with Winky Wright.

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

(2 -- color) Jack Mosley (right) worked as his son's trainer for 242 amateur fights and another 43 professional bouts.

Jeff Zelevansky/Associated Press

Box:

SHANE MOSLEY vs. WINKY WRIGHT (see text)