LOS ANGELES (AP) -Former four-time champion Sugar Shane Mosley intends to prove again that he's one of the best fighters around, so that means he must beat the best.
Mosley, who turns 37 on Sept. 7, faces Ricardo Mayorga on Sept. 27 but already is lobbying for a shot at WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.
``I go after the best fighter. It doesn't matter who it is,'' Mosley said. ``When Mayweather (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) was on top before he retired, I wanted Mayweather. Margarito is the best welterweight out there right now, so I want Margarito.
``I love the challenge. I've always been that way, wanted to be the best. So if he's the best fighter, I'm going after him.''
The 30-year-old Margarito, who seems to have improved with age and experience, stopped Miguel Cotto on July 26 in Las Vegas to take the WBA crown.
Mosley lost a 12-round decision to Cotto last November in New York, couldn't get a rematch, then set up a bout against Zab Judah. But that was called off when Judah injured his arm.
Mosley obviously must get past Mayorga in their bout at the Home Depot Center in suburban Carson if he is to realize a goal he's set for the next few years.
``I want to let the world know that I'm the best fighter - even today,'' he said. ``Back in my good old days in the early 2000s, I displayed that and I want to do it again before 2010, want to let people know that I'm truly a legendary fighter.
``For maybe a year or two, I felt like I lost something. But now I'm really motivated.''
Mosley has a 44-5 record that includes two wins over Oscar De La Hoya and two losses by decision to both Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright.
In his past four fights dating back to Feb. 25, 2006, Mosley stopped Fernando Vargas twice and decisioned Luis Collazo before losing to Cotto.
Mayorga, with Mosley at a news conference Thursday to announce their match, is 28-6-1, but just 3-3 in his past six bouts. The losses were to Cory Spinks in December 2003, then Felix Trinidad and De La Hoya. He decisioned Vargas last November in his latest fight.
Before that stretch, Mayorga beat Forrest twice.
``Remember what I did to Vernon Forrest and what Vernon Forrest did to you,'' Mayorga, speaking through a translator, told Mosley.
Mayorga, a Nicaraguan who likes to spice up news conferences by hurling insults, presented Mosley with a pair of pink boxing gloves to wear for their bout, and constantly interrupted in a loud voice when Mosley was speaking. Mosley just grinned.
Afterward, they gave each other a friendly hug.
Said Mayorga: ``I've always been nuts.''
