IT'S NOT GIVEN MUCH OF A FIGHTING CHANCE MOSLEYS ASIDE, FATHER-SON BOXING TEAMS RARELY WORK OUT.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

LAS VEGAS - Jack Mosley, father and trainer, was where he always is when Shane Mosley took his place on the dais for a news conference to promote Saturday's fight against Oscar De La Hoya: By his son's side.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., De La Hoya's trainer, last week wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the image of his son, fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. But that's as close as they get these days: The two don't speak.

Such is the wide spectrum when fathers train their sons. Sometimes it works, usually it doesn't. It all depends on the personalities involved, the type of relationship the father and son have, the father's motives and egos.

``It's like having a Little League father in your corner,'' boxing historian Bert Sugar said.

Jack Mosley has trained Shane since childhood, and the two have not had a serious problem. The apparent key: Jack, who fought as a amateur, doesn't seem to be living out fantasies through his son, and Shane doesn't have a big ego.

The two go about their business - whether it's as father and son or trainer and fighter - with mutual respect. Jack always encouraged his children to communicate openly, to attack problems head on, and that's how the Mosleys live their lives.

And, just as important, the two are tight. Shane said Jack ``is like a big brother as much as a dad.''

``I think father-son relationships fail because of a clash in personalities,'' Shane Mosley said. ``Father and son have big egos that clash because there's only room for one ego. Whether it works depends on what type of ego it is.

``My ego is inward, my father's is outward. I don't mind if he talks. The limelight is going to come my way because of my talent.''

The Mayweathers weren't so fortunate.

Floyd Sr. trained his son as an amateur but went to prison after a drug conviction, and the fighter began his professional career with his uncle, former champion Roger Mayweather, in his corner.

By the time Floyd Sr. was released, Floyd Jr. was well into his career and had evolved from a boy into a strong-willed man reluctant to acquiesce to his equally strong-willed father's wishes.

Apparently, that's a typical problem. A boy will listen to his father; a man might not.

The result, in the case of the Mayweathers: Their egos collided when the younger Mayweather made a deal with manger James Prince that Floyd Sr. didn't approve of, an ugly feud became public and now they have no relationship. Junior went back to uncle Roger and Senior moved on to De La Hoya.

Jeff Mayweather, another former fighter and Floyd Sr.'s brother, watched the drama evolve.

``The biggest thing that happened was when big Floyd was incarcerated, little Floyd had time to grow, to become a man,'' Jeff Mayweather said. ``When his dad got out, his kid had grown up and wanted to tell his dad what to do. The power had flipped.

``And they're both so head strong. Neither would take a step back. Now, it's an ugly, bitter feud for everyone.''

Sugar pointed to Joe and Marvis Frazier as another example of a failed father-son boxing relationship.

The elder Frazier, once a great heavyweight champion, led his marginally talented son to slaughter against both Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson when the younger Frazier would've been better advised to choose a more-genteel profession.

``Fathers don't see their sons with the same eyes as other trainers,'' Sugar said. ``They're not dispassionate when they should be. They live through their sons' exploits. They desperately want their kid to succeed even when he's in over his head.

``Joe Frazier wanted his son to become part of his own destiny, and you saw what happened.''

To be sure, Floyd Mayweather Sr. wants to use his position as an established trainer to feed his hefty ego. At the same time, blood is blood. He believes the two will resolve their differences one day and resume their relationship.

The only question is when.

``It was painful, yes,'' Floyd Sr. said of the split. ``At the beginning, it was hard. A lot of things were said. I've moved on, though. He has his life and I have my life. That's the way things are now.

``He'll be back, though. I don't know if it'll be in a year or 10 years, but he'll be back. I know it.''

For their sake, it might be best for that to happen after Floyd Jr. retires.

Michael Rosenthal, [phone]

michael.rosenthal(at)dailynews.com

DE LA HOYA vs. MOSLEY

When: Saturday

Where: MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas

TV: Pay-per-view, $49.95

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Shane Mosley, left, and his father/trainer Jack are examples of how a father-son relationship can withstand the strain of boxing.

(2) Floyd Mayweather Sr. (pictured), the trainer for Oscar De La Hoya, is not on speaking terms with his son, Floyd Jr., a professional boxer. He believes the two will resolve their differences one day.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News