Marquez' face was a mess after three rounds

Shane Mosley's debut at light middleweight ended in a no-decision when his opponent Raul Marquez suffered cuts around both eyes.

The fight in Las Vegas, between two former world champions, was halted after three rounds and because the fight had not gone past four rounds, no result could be declared.

Mosley had the better of the exchanges while the fight lasted, although whether that will be enough to make him a viable opponent for Oscar de la Hoya later this year remains to be seen.

I was breaking him down with body shots Shane Mosley

"I consider this fight a win because I know I was on my way to catching him with a good shot," Mosley said.

"I was breaking him down with body shots."

Mosley is a former IBF lightweight champion and WBC welterweight champion whose reputation was damaged last year when he was beaten twice by Vernon Forrest.

Marquez, a former IBF junior middlweight champ, has boxed sporadically in recent years.

During the fight and as it ended, Marquez accused Mosley of deliberately head-butting him, but upon seeing replays he acknowledged that the contact was accidental.

Mosley's record remains at 38 wins and two defeats, with 35 wins inside the distance while Marquez stayed at 34-2 with 23 wins iside the distance.

On the same card, Mexico's Antonio Margarito stopped Andrew "Six-Heads" Lewis in the second round to retain his WBO welterweight title.

One minute into second round, Margarito landed a right hand to the head that left Lewis lolling on the ropes, unable to respond to a hail of punches.

After a further 90 seconds of punishment, referee Joe Cortez called a halt to the contest.

Margarito improved to 28-3, with 19 wins inside the distance - Lewis fell to 22-2.