04.10.04 – Ricardo Mayorga: “I felt good about my performance, but my eye swelled up, and I couldn’t see some shots.” When asked if he felt that he had hurt Trinidad when he knocked him down in the third round, Mayorga replied, “No,” and left the ring and immediately left Madison Square Garden in an ambulance for Bellevue Hospital. At the hospital, translator Tony Gonzalez asked Mayorga if he was okay. El Matador replied: “I’m fine except for a bruised heart.”
He was later seen at his hotel where members of his team said he was fine and mentioned that he did not receive stitches for the gash under his left eye.
Felix Trinidad:
“I was strong in the ring, and I felt very comfortable, I expected a tough fight and Mayorga did not prove me wrong. He has an incredible chin and great power.
“The moment I started working the body I knew I was going to take off and dominate the fight.
“The knockdown was more push than punch, the referee did his job, and I had to continue. My corner asked me how I felt, and I told them that I was in perfect condition.
“God has given me health to return to the sport, and the strength of my family and team has carried me here. I have the best fans in the world and this fight is for all of them.”
Papa Trinidad:
“The real Tito showed up today, and we worked in such a way that we really did not show any ring rust.
“The body shots changed the history and a valiant Mayorga had no option but to go down for the first time in his career.”
Zab “Super” Judah:
“I felt great fighting in my hometown and I did spectacular. I am very powerful at 147 and my next opponent must be Cory Spinks. That’s it.
I guarantee you that what happen against Spinks will never happen again.
I got the job done and I’m one step closer to Spinks.
I felt so confident fighting in the grandest arena in the world, it’s a hard felling to explain.”
Wayne “Wawatae” Martell:
“There’s nothing to be proud of. I did not do what I was supposed to.”
Travis Simms:
“I fought and beat one of the best fighters in the division that few boxers want to face to prove, as a champion, I am a force to be reckoned with.
I knew he was a tough guy—that’s why we took the fight. He never hurt me, but I did get a little sloppy at times.
Now I want the winner of Winky Wright vs. Shane Mosley.”
Bronco McKart:
“It was a good tough fight, I let it all out. He got me with a pretty good shot in the 8th or 9th round, but he boxed better than expected.
I think I followed him around a bit much but I wanted to be aggressive and do my job.
I have not wore this kind of gloves for over 10 years (Reyes 8oz.) and I felt his power, I’m sure he did too. It’s funny the NY Athletic Commission makes us do MRI’s and all sorts of test and I ended up with such a small glove in a division like this.
Simms deserved the win and now I go back to the drawing board.”
Rosendo Alvarez:
“Nothing affected me more in this fight than my opponent. My weight was not an issue. My delay in the trip for my visa was not an issue either, because those would just be excuses.
I fought a gladiator for the fourth time and every time has been a war. I knew this fight was going to go the distance, but I want to apologize to my promoter, my country and my family for not making weight; however, the fight went on and I want to thank Don King for the opportunity.
This will be my last time I fight in the 108 lbs. division.”
Bebis Mendoza:
“I felt super-fine in the ring, and I know I won that fight. Alvarez has been and continues to be an irresponsible person. He came in 3 ½ pounds overweight, but I felt I beat him even though he had an unfair weight advantage.
This decision is very difficult for me to take as I was dreaming of winning the title back.
LOUIS COLLAZO : He was a very tough opponent, I knew he was coming up in weight and was not going to be as crafty as he was at 140.
He got me with a couple of good shots, but I was never in trouble.
I am very excited that I won. I didn’t know the judges’ cards would be this lopsided, but this motivates me to train even harder for a world title shot.
This is my second fight at the Garden, which is in my backyard, and I feel there is an electricity running through me right now.
I want to fight the best in this category, but I always leave those decisions up to Don King and my manager.
FELIX FLORES I think the judges never saw me throw a punch, like I had my hands behind my back. I guess you have to live here [in New York] to win. I think I won the fight.
He [Collazo] was quick and threw some strong shots, but I still feel like I won the fight.
A couple of times in the last round and in a few of the middle rounds, I thought I hurt him and felt he was going to go down, but he ran too much.