SUGAR SHORT, SWEET MOSLEY CASTS OFF STONE IN ROUND 3.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor

LAS VEGAS - Shane Mosley did what everyone expected him to do Saturday: Knock less-than-creditable contender Adrian Stone senseless to keep his WBC welterweight championship, the end coming at 2:01 of the third round.

Mosley then got down to more important business: After the fight, he made a concrete offer to Oscar De La Hoya for a bout at 154 pounds late this year.

Mosley and promoter Cedric Kushner announced at the post-fight news conference they'll guarantee De La Hoya $10 million if he agrees to a rematch of their June 2000 fight at Staples Center that Mosley won by a split decision.

Kushner said he told one of De La Hoya's representatives earlier in the day that an offer would be tended and the two agreed to talk Monday.

``I would like to fight (Vernon) Forrest,'' said Mosley, referring to the IBF welterweight champ he had said likely would be his next opponent, ``but it's what you people say, it's what makes more money and sense. I think the public would love to see a rematch between me and Oscar De La Hoya.''

Rumor is that De La Hoya is reluctant to fight Mosley again, at least at the moment. And it's performances like Mosley's on Saturday that might cause De La Hoya to hesitate.

Mosley (38-0, with 35 knockouts) had trouble solving Stone's awkward, mauling style for two-plus rounds. However, when he finally did, the challenger's end arrived in only a few seconds of frightening violence.

Mosley, who couldn't seem to land a telling blow before the third round, found Stone's face with a straight right hand that in effect ended the fight. Stone, badly hurt, managed to remain on his feet but was pathetically helpless prey for a monster like Mosley, who followed the big punch with a barrage of blows culminated with another deadly right that put Stone flat on his back.

The Briton's head bounced off the canvas and he lost consciousness. Referee Jay Nady didn't even bother to count and an estimated 4,900 at Caesars Palace couldn't complain.

Stone (30-4-2, 23 KOs) was motionless for several minutes but ultimately walked out with limited assistance. He was taken to a hospital for observation and did not attend the news conference.

Mosley landed a frightful 14 of 18 power punches in the final round, according to CompuBox statistics. Stone landed only 15 punches in the fight, Mosley 48.

``He was an awkward fighter to figure out,'' Mosley said. ``Once I caught up with him, though, I put my punches together and finished it. I was a little worried when he banged his head. I'm just glad he's well.''

The Mosley-De La Hoya fight will be difficult to make.

Again, De La Hoya and his handlers have seemed cold to the idea because they would like to ease into such a challenge. Kushner said he and his client will quickly move on to Forrest and possibly Andrew ``Six Heads'' Lewis, the WBA 147-pound titleholder, if it becomes clear De La Hoya is disinterested.

And even Mosley will step into the ring only under the right circumstances. Jack Mosley, Shane's father/trainer, interrupted Kushner's announcement of the offer to say his son ``has agreed to the fight, not the money.'' Kushner said Mosley also would earn $10 million but the elder Mosley didn't appear to be enamored with that figure.

However, the fighter is doing all he can to force De La Hoya's hand.

``I don't know if Oscar wants to fight me,'' he said. ``I do know that he needs to fight me if he wants to regain his reputation.''

In a preliminary bout, Michael Grant (31-2, 22 KOs), who was pummeled by Lennox Lewis in his last fight in April of last year, was dropped and hurt badly by Jameel McCline (26-2-3, 16 KOs) with the first punch of the fight and then couldn't continue because he twisted his ankle as he fell.

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Pomona's Shane Mosley follows through as he knocks out Adrian Stone in the third round at Caesars Palace on Saturday.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News