Grove, who posted a 49-10 record in a professional career that spanned from 1982 to '98, always will be remembered for being one of two men to engage in the final 15-round world-title bout, and for taking part in the first pro main event in Russia.

His recollections of his Aug. 20, 1989, unanimous decision over Anthony English in Moscow, a victory that earned him the USBA super featherweight belt, are definitely more pleasant than those of his Aug. 4, 1988, defense of his IBF 126-pound crown against Jorge Paez in the Plaza de Toros Calafia in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

The temperature in the outdoor bullfighting stadium that afternoon soared over 100 degrees, and to 120-plus in the ring.

Grove, who at the time was 34-0 with 13 victories inside the distance, built a seemingly comfortable lead by outboxing the flamboyant Paez. But the heat was taking a terrible toll on the champion, who was knocked down three times in the 15th and final round, victimized as much by the sun as by Paez' punches.

When the scorecards were tallied, Grove was no longer undefeated and Paez was the new champ. One judge had it 142-142 while the others had the Mexican ahead by 143-140 and 142-140.

Grove collapsed after the bout and was taken to a local hospital, where he was administered intravenous fluids. He maintains to this day there is such a place as hell on earth, and it is Baja California in August.

"Fighting outdoors in heat like that is the worst thing in the world," Grove told me. "In Las Vegas, they used to do it, but they did it at night, when it was a little cooler.

"They say it was 120 degrees in the ring, but it felt more like 130. I can't imagine it being hotter anywhere."

Had the IBF a little earlier joined the WBC and WBA in going to 12-round championship fights, Grove would have retained his title. Then again, had 12-round title bouts been in effect much before then, Rocky Marciano, trailing on the scorecards, would not have won the heavyweight title on a 13th-round knockout of Jersey Joe Walcott on Sept. 23, 1952. And Sugar Ray Leonard wouldn't have been able to come from behind to and stop Thomas Hearns in the 14th round of their Sept. 16, 1981, welterweight unification megafight.

"I looked at the tape of that Paez fight a few months ago," Grove said. "[One judge] gave Paez the 15th round by a 10-4 margin. There's no such thing. A 10-7, yeah. Maybe a 10-6. But 10-4? Ridiculous. That was just wrong."

Somewhat surprisingly, Grove agreed to go back to the Plaza de Toros Calafia for a rematch with Paez on March 30, 1989. He was stopped in the 11th round that time.

Why return to Mexicali, the place of his near-death experience? Well, it was Paez's home turf and, as champion, he pretty much called the shots. And besides, it was a time of year when the heat wasn't quite so oppressive.

"I just couldn't make the weight anymore," Paez said of his failed second crack at Paez. "It was time for me to move up."

Jones movin' on up

As of now, the WBA and IBF each have Jones, 26, rated 10th in the world. That's up from No. 12 in the WBA November rankings and No. 13 in the IBF December rankings.

Jones (17-0, 15 KOs) makes his second defense of his NABA 147-pound title against rugged Larry Mosley (15-3-2, 6 KOs), of Los Angeles, in the 10-round main event on June 6 at Bally's Atlantic City.

In the eight-round co-feature, North Philly super bantamweight Teon Kennedy (12-0, 5 KOs) squares off against Reading's

Lucian Gonzalez (9-5-1, 1 KO).

DiBella signs Mack

Mack (27-2-2, 16 KOs) recently signed a contract with Lou DiBella, the former HBO Sports senior vice president who is one of boxing's foremost promoters. DiBella can help place Mack, 29, on the fast track for a shot at a world title. All he has to do is keep winning and look good while doing it.

"I think he's an elite light-heavyweight, of world-championship caliber," DiBella said of Mack. "He's a real rugged Philadelphia fighter. He's capable of beating anyone at 175 pounds. On his best night, I think he's capable of beating a [IBF/IBO champ] Chad Dawson."

Things tough all over

Among those artifacts are a birthday gift and card from Motown founder Berry Gordy, valued at $4,400; two gifts from former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, $7,400 and $3,500, respectively; Eddie's nearly-100-year-old Swiss watch (which still works), $2,900; and, the most cherished piece in the lot, Eddie's ring from when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, $9,500.

"Mr. Eddie," as he was known to his many admirers, was 90 when he died on Oct. 10, 2001. Among the great fighters he trained at one time or another were Bowe, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Bob Foster, Alexis Arguello and Michael Spinks. *

Send e-mail to fernanb@phillynews.com