ANOTHER OSCAR NIGHT FOR L.A. DE LA HOYA-MOSLEY SET FOR STAPLES IN CALIFORNIA'S RICHEST FIGHT EVER.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Staff Writer

For the moment, it seems, Los Angeles is the center of the boxing world.

Oscar De La Hoya, one of the sport's biggest names, and Shane Mosley, one of its brightest talents, formally announced Monday at Staples Center that the homegrown rivals will meet on June 17 at the new downtown arena in what will be the biggest-money fight in the history of California.

Also, promoter Bob Arum announced that he is negotiating to stage three more boxing cards featuring big-name fighters the same weekend at other sites in L.A.

All that, combined with the prospect of the Lakers playing in the NBA Finals at that time, could turn downtown into an energy-packed sports circus.

``It's going to be an exciting thing for L.A. fans,'' said De La Hoya, who will defend the WBC welterweight belt he was formally awarded on Monday. ``This is history, the very first fight at Staples Center.

``It's big. I'm very excited.''

The fight is significant purely in boxing terms.

De La Hoya (32-1, with 26 knockouts) and Mosley (34-0, 32 KOs) are two of the best fighters in the world and in the prime of their careers.

De La Hoya, from East L.A., is rebuilding his image somewhat after a disappointing loss to Felix Trinidad in September, while Mosley, from Pomona,

is hungry to build a bigger name for himself and claim a bigger share of boxing's sizable monetary pie.

And the fact the WBC handed De La Hoya the belt he lost to Trinidad - which Trinidad gave up when he won the WBA junior middleweight title and De La Hoya reclaimed when he knocked out Derrell Coley in January - only adds drama to the matchup.

``I'm honored to accept the belt,'' De La Hoya said. ``Just one thing, though: On June 17, I will officially consider myself champion of this belt.

``It's a big fight. It'll go to the best man.''

That the fight is in Los Angeles completes a particularly fascinating picture for local fans.

The L.A. area is starved for big-time boxing. It hasn't seen a fight of this magnitude since the late 1960s and early '70s, when popular Mexican fighters performed regularly at packed local arenas.

And no fight even approaches this one in terms of money: Gate receipts could exceed $8 million if the arena sells out, which would dwarf the previous high of approximately $700,000 for the 1990 bout between Tony Lopez and Jorge Paez in Sacramento.

De La Hoya will earn $8 million, Mosley $4.5 million, although both could make more if pay-per-view sales go well.

Of course, the money is a motivating factor for the fighters. However, both also find gratification in the fact the fight will take place in their hometown.

De La Hoya, who hasn't fought in L.A. since he knocked out John Avila on Dec. 10, 1994, has been angling to get back here since.

For Mosley, one might think that the site of the fight would be insignificant compared to its magnitude because this is the big break he's waited for since he turned pro in 1993.

Not so, he said.

He's been all but lost in the glow of De La Hoya's superstardom in this town. He wants to show local boxing fans what they've been missing.

``I wanted it to be in L.A.,'' he said. ``I think the fans, the crowd need to see what I'm really about, they deserve to see what I'm about. I don't know if they understand how good I really am.

``. . . They should know there's another great fighter in town.''

Tim Leiweke, president of Staples, has said that this fight in large part will determine whether Staples will bring big-time boxing to L.A. on a regular basis. He wants to see no empty seats, an exciting card and an electric atmosphere.

For now, both he and Arum are bursting with optimism that this is only the beginning.

``Look what's happening now,'' Arum said. ``(WBC lightweight champion) Steve Johnston fights in his hometown of Denver last Friday and the place sells out, every ticket gone.

``. . . The same thing will happen here. Two local guys, two world- class fighters at the Staples Center. It's going to sell out. It's a natural.

``For boxing to flourish, we have to, to a large extent, take boxing out of the casinos and bring it into the arenas where people can afford to watch the events.''

--Notes: The additional card on Friday will be televised by ESPN2 while afternoon cards Saturday and Sunday will be on ABC, Arum said.

Arum and Leiweke said the Olympic Auditorium and the 2,000-seat Variety Arts Center a few blocks from Staples are possible sites, although a Variety Arts spokesman said it hasn't been determined whether the building is logistically suited for boxing.

Arum said WBA bantamweight champ Paulie Ayala and Johnston could headline the smaller cards.

Also, WBC junior featherweight titleholder Erik Morales is expected to fight on the De La Hoya-Mosley undercard.

The De La Hoya-Mosley card will take place in the ring used for so many years at the Forum.

GLANCE

Who: Oscar De La Hoya (32-1, 26 KOs) vs. Shane Mosley (34-0, 32 KOs)

Where: Staples Center

When: June 17

TV: Pay-per-view

Tickets: $50 to $900, on sale Wednesday

At stake: De La Hoya's WBC welterweight title.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Oscar De La Hoya, left, and Shane Mosley play tug-of-war with WBC belt they'll fight for on June 17.

(2) Shane Mosley, of Pomona, left, and Oscar De La Hoya, of East Los Angeles, are eager to fight in front of their hometown fans at Staples Center.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box: GLANCE (see text)