LOS ANGELES — Antonio Margarito has risen to numero uno status in his native Mexico, following in the footsteps of such highly acclaimed fighters as Julio Cesar Chavez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

The man known as "the Tijuana Tornado" earned that unofficial honor six months ago, when he stopped previously unbeaten Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto in the 11th round to claim the WBA welterweight title.

"To be considered numero uno in Mexico is a great honor," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Thursday. "He worked hard for it, he fought everybody to get there. He's so beloved in Mexico because of the way he gutted (the Cotto fight) out.

"He's taken the mantle that Chavez had. Chavez had it, then Morales and Barrera. Now, it's Margarito's."

Margarito knows that to remain No. 1 he has to keep winning. He'll get his first opportunity on Saturday night when he defends his 147-pound title against well-traveled Shane Mosley at Staples Center. Promoters Arum and Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Productions, forecast a sellout crowd of more than 18,000.

"It answers those critics who say somehow boxing is suffering," Arum said of interest the fight has generated. "Boxing is alive and well and is really going to kick some (butt) in 2009 and the years to come."

Los Angeles is home territory for both fighters. Margarito, 37-5 with 27 knockouts, lives in Tijuana but trains in suburban Montebello and has a large following in Southern California. Mosley, 45-5 with 38 knockouts, lives in nearby Pomona and knows Staples Center well, having beaten Oscar De La Hoya there on June 17, 2000, in the arena's first major fight.

"I'm very happy we have a sold-out arena," Margarito said through a translator. "We came here, we did our work in training camp, and we know Mosley's a very experienced fighter, a very good fighter. There are no secrets here, we know our styles and I'm very certain I will raise my hands in victory."

While the 30-year-old Margarito was at his best in beating Cotto, Mosley certainly wasn't in his last outing, a 12th-round knockout of Ricardo Mayorga four months ago at Home Depot Center in nearby Carson. Mosley was ahead on two of the judges' scorecards when the end came.

Mosley lost a close but unanimous 12-round decision to Cotto before that, on Nov. 10, 2007.

"This is going to be a great event," said the 37-year-old Mosley, a four-time world champion in three weight classes. "I want to thank Margarito for taking the fight when he could have fought anyone. To fight right here in both of our backyards, where we both came up fighting the hard way. ... I've just been up here a little longer.

"I feel great, I feel sharp, I feel special. I can't wait to get in the ring. I think I'm going to be victorious."

Mosley's father, Jack, trained his son for years, but the younger Mosley hired Naazim Richardson for that job against Margarito. The elder Mosley attended Thursday's news conference.

"I'm not here to teach Shane how to fight, Jack Mosley already did a great job at that," Richardson said. "I'm here to find the flaws in Margarito and help Shane exploit those."

Mosley said he knows how to box pressure fighters — a good thing considering Margarito has shown time and again that he won't back down.

"I know his pedigree, I know his style," Mosley said. "Everything's perfect. We've watched a lot of fight films. We've worked on my strengths, my weaknesses. My father really respects Naazim, the way he does things."

Both fighters will earn about $2.4 million. The 12-round bout will be televised live by HBO.

Arum forecast a scenario that calls for Margarito to fight three times this year — on Saturday against Mosley, a rematch against Cotto in mid-June and, if all goes according to plan, a matchup with Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 knockouts) in December.

Pacquiao dominated De La Hoya in his most recent outing.