INDIANAPOLIS -- WBC welterweight champion Vernon Forrest needed three tries, but finally made weight for his 12-round title defense against Shane Mosley.

After weighing in at 147.3 and 147.2 in his first two attempts Friday, Forrest took a walk -- literally -- then returned and weighed in at 147 pounds.

"I took a walk to the corner,'' he said.

Clad only in his underwear, Forrest tipped the scales at 147.3 on his first try. He then stripped while three men held up a green curtain to shield him from the waist down as a roomful of boxers, trainers, fight officials and fans looked on.

When he failed to make weight again, another weigh-in was scheduled for later in the afternoon. But Forrest returned about 10 minutes later and made weight.

Mosley missed the limit on his first try, too, coming in at 147.1, but registered 146.9 on his second try.

The weight problem temporarily added an element of suspense to Saturday night's bout, which promoters are calling "The Rematch of the Century.''

"It's a unique fight, two of the best fighters in the world willing to fight each other in circumstances where they didn't have to,'' said Kery Davis, senior vice president for boxing for HBO, which will air the bout.

Both were unbeaten when they fought Jan. 26 at Madison Square Garden.

Mosley, 30, of Pomona, Calif., held the WBC crown he took from Oscar De La Hoya and was riding a 38-fight winning streak. Forrest was a 7-1 underdog despite his 33-0 record.

But Forrest, 31, of Atlanta, dominated almost from the start, overpowering Mosley with his size and reach advantage. Forrest, who is 6-feet tall, knocked down the 5-9 Mosley twice in the second round -- the first knockdowns of Mosley's career -- and won a unanimous 12-round decision.

Neither has fought since.

Mosley, cut by a first-round head butt, didn't blame it for his loss initially. He has since said the blow caused him to see stars for the next eight rounds, hindering his performance.

When Forrest's manager, Charles Watson, spoke about Forrest's superior technique Thursday at a news conference, Jack Mosley -- the fighter's father-trainer -- jumped back up to the podium.

"The techniques you guys used in the fight weren't techniques,'' he said. "Hitting low, holding throughout the fight. You won't be able to head-butt and hit low Saturday. The refs are going to knock that stuff down, believe me.''

Forrest, who sat laughing at the dais, his eyes shielded by a hat drawn low over his eyes, would not talk about either fight, choosing instead to thank the promoters.

But co-trainer Ronnie Shields said the butt was an accident.

"Vernon went in, threw a right to the body, Shane went down and they hit heads,'' Shields said. "Both of them got hit.''

The camps' mutual bitterness was reflected moments later, when Forrest's other trainer, Al Mitchell, said: "I want to thank Shane for another good payday and another easy fight.''

Forrest will make about $3 million, Mosley $2.7 million.

Mosley, who lost to Forrest as an amateur at the 1992 Olympic boxing trials, is hoping for a better performance in their third meeting. On Thursday, he promised "the best Sugar Shane Mosley you've ever seen.''