14.12.03 – By Frank Lotierzo: We all knew that it was going to happen, and now it’s confirmed. I spent all most the duration of the Hasim Rahman-John Ruiz fight last night talking with former welterweight, jr. middleweight, and middleweight champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad. The rumors were buzzing throughout Boardwalk Hall last night about him making a possible comeback.
I sat behind Trinidad for the entire Back-to-Back-to-Back card. I had a real good conversation with Felix, between him signing autographs. And he didn’t turn anyone down regardless of the ring action and was a class act. Tito confirmed to me that the rumors are true and he does plan to fight again. He said he plans to fight as a middleweight, and “hopes to line up a fight with either Bernard Hopkins or Oscar De La Hoya down the road”. Regarding his retirement, he said that he just needed a rest and had to clear some things up. So we now can look forward to the return of Felix Trinidad in 2004, and see him possibly in a big fight by the years end.
Regarding the three major fights. I can’t comment with any certainty on the Rahman-Ruiz fight. I was talking with Trinidad and writing. I did try and catch as much as I could, but not enough to score it. From what I did see, the fight was awful and I thought they both lost. As I said before, it shouldn’t have been for a piece of the heavyweight title.
I saw the entire Mayorga-Spinks, and Hopkins-Joppy fights. I had Spinks beating Mayorga 115-113 or 7-5 in rounds. Spinks boxed beautiful. Although I would’ve liked to have seen him make Mayorga pay more when he missed, I thought he still pulled it out. Many of Mayorga’s wild shots were missing and being caught by Spinks’ gloves. The judge who scored it 117-110 Spinks, must’ve been watching from the Boardwalk. The fight was very close!
In the Hopkins-Joppy fight, Hopkins started slow. However, once he got into his rhythm he had his way with Joppy and did just about what he wanted. I will say this, I can now see father time starting to creep up on Hopkins. If there are any big fights out there for him, he better fight them in 2004.