Former three-division king Shane Mosley (39-4, 35 KOs) is both confident and fired up about his return to the welterweight division, in a bout scheduled for April 23,2005 on ESPN PPV in Las Vegas. "Sugar" Shane will face David Estrada (18-1, 9 KOs). The 33 year-old former lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight king will be fighting at 147 for the first time since his two losses to Vernon Forrest in 2002, and he is already ranked 1st by the WBC at welterweight.

"When I fought my second fight with Winky Wright, I made 154 so easily, and I felt much sharper and much faster in my workouts", explained Mosley at a conference call earlier today. "At 147 I'll be using eight ounce gloves, which was very tempting for me."

Mosley hopes the move back down to 147 will provide him more punching power, but he doesn't want to rely solely on that: "What happened to me in my last couple of fights was that I became a puncher first and a boxer second, when my career started off I was a boxer first. I want to get back to that, and I still have the power to knock people out."

Shane also discussed the input of his new trainer, former champion John David Jackson. "John is proving to be a very good trainer. He's a good coach, and he has a lot of knowledge. He's a two-time world champion, so he knows his stuff. […] He didn't really change anything, but he's bringing things back to my attention. It's working on great, and he's surprisingly a good coach."

On his next opponent, David Estrada, he had this to say: "I haven't met David, but I've seen him on tape. He's always in shape, and he's a little awkward at times. He's kind of like [former WBO 140 lbs titlist] Zack Padilla in a way. I know that he fought Ishe Smith, and then Chris Smith. That was good stuff. He's going to come in with a lot of intensity." When asked when we would see the Shane Mosley of old, Mosley didn't hesitate a second to answer: "I'm right there right now. I can't wait to get in the ring and show it. I have a lot of fire in my stomach. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I think I have even more hunger now, because there are a lot of critics, haters and doubters out there now, and I want to put my mark on the 147 pound division. Sugar Shane is here, and he's going to be there for a little while."

Shane had this to say about the criticism and doubt that has been
surrounding him since the two losses to Winky Wright, and those who question his return at welterweight: "The doubters are a motivational tool. I think that's what has given me that fire in my belly, it's helping me out. I need that level of criticism and doubt, it's a positive. I'm going to take it into the ring with me."

Mosley quickly contemplated his future in the once again talent rich welterweight division: "I could be ready for a world title fight in my next fight, but it could take 2 fights, it doesn't matter. It could be Antonio Margarito or Kermit Cintron, I just want to go out there and dominate." On being an undercard fighter for the first time in ages: "My ego's not that big. If I had wanted to be the main event, I wouldn't be on that card. I could've been on a card of my own and wait a few months but I don't have that kind of arrogance, I don't have to be on the main event. I want to fight, stay sharp, because there are a lot of good fights out there."