NOTEBOOK: JONES CHECKS IN ON DEBATE.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

All boxing fans love to weigh in on the question: Who's the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world?

Roy Jones Jr. is no exception. His pick for No. 1? C'mon, it's Roy Jones Jr.

Some agree with the 32-year-old light heavyweight champion, who defends his title against Julio Gonzalez on Saturday at Staples Center. His skills are undeniable and the resume he's compiled over the past 12 years - while criticized - is impressive.

However, more and more observers are jumping to Felix Trinidad or Shane Mosley as the top fighter. Trinidad, who faces middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins on Sept. 15, has devastated his opposition while Mosley seems to have no weakness.

Jones has respect for both - with qualifications.

Mosley? Great fighter. But who has he beaten?

``I love Shane Mosley to death. I've known him since he was a little kid,'' said Jones, speaking Wednesday in a courtyard at Los Angeles City Hall after the final news conference for his bout with Gonzalez. ``The only (significant) person he beat so far is Oscar De La Hoya. To take that one win and say he's the best pound for pound doesn't make sense.''

And Trinidad? ``De La Hoya beat the hell out of Trinidad,'' said Jones, referring to a fight De La Hoya dominated but somehow lost. ``How could he possibly be the best pound for pound? ... And he beat two guys (David Reid and Fernando Vargas) who to me fought him too early.

``I like Trinidad. He's a strong puncher. But to say someone is the best pound-for-pound fighters, you're talking about a technician, a guy with skills.''

--Political intervention: Mayor Jim Hahn helped kick off the news conference, which took place on the steps of City Hall before a few hundred people.

Turns out he's a fight fan.

``I remember my first fight,'' he said. ``My uncle took me to the Sports Arena (on Nov. 15, 1962) to see a fighter fight another fighter half his age - Archie Moore and Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay). That's an experience I'll always remember.

``I hope some young people will look back at the fight on Saturday and have the same kind of memories.''

--Sensitive guy: Jones, a resident of Pensacola, Fla., has a fear of earthquakes. He agreed to come to Los Angeles four days before the fight only because organizers found him a first-class hotel room on the first floor.

Hahn tried to alleviate any concerns Jones might've had on the steps of the towering City Hall building.

``Don't worry,'' he said. ``We just spent $3 million refurbishing City Hall. It's earthquake safe.''

--Ticket update: Promoter Bob Arum announced that 14,250 tickets had been sold as of Wednesday morning. Only a few thousand remain.

--Weigh in: The weigh in for the championship fights - Jones-Gonzalez, Erik Morales-Injin Chi and Andrew ``Six Heads'' Lewis-Ricardo Mayorga - will take place on an open-air stage at the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City, Friday at 1:30 p.m.

The stage is between the Shubert Theater and the Century City Twin Towers.

Actor Robert Wuhl, who created and stars in the television program ``Arliss,'' will be master of ceremonies.

--Lewis-Rahman? Promoter Don King said Lennox Lewis is under contract with him to challenge WBC-IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman in a rematch. King is in Beijing, where he is promoting the WBA heavyweight title bout between champion John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield on Aug. 5. He said Rahman, who has an agreement with King, has not signed a contract yet.

JONES vs. GONZALEZ

Who: Roy Jones Jr. defends his undisputed light heavyweight championship against Julio Gonzalez.

When: Saturday

Where: Staples Center

TV: Pay-per-view (begins 5:30 p.m.)

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JONES vs. GONZALEZ (see text)