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March '05: Notable Results Cont.
WBA Welterweight: Felix Trinidad (1-1, 1 KO) vs Sugar Ray Leonard (2-1, 1 KO)
The much anticipated bout had all the hype of a title fight. But, as has been discussed, many felt Tito would need to blast Leonard early, or Leonard would just work him over for the duration. But, 19 seconds into the fight, when back met canvas, it was Trinidad who was sprawled out. Trinidad is up at 5, but Leonard pounces, and this fight looks much like Trinidad/Pineda did. However, Trinidad blasts away in the final minute, having lost the round but at least showing some life. This is perhaps the reason Leonard backs off in the second, fighting more conservatively, picking Trinidad apart from the outside. But Trinidad breaks through late, a combination and a hard right cross getting Leonard's, and the crowd's attention. Leonard keeps Trinidad at bay again for much of the third, though he's not landing much of his own. But he takes the final 30 seconds of the round to steal it with successive combinations. The 4th is even and surprisingly uneventful, but Leonard is back to picking Trinidad apart in the 5th. Everything Trinidad throws, it seems Leonard either dodges or rolls with. In the 6th, Trinidad is able to coax Leonard into a brawl, but Leonard acquits himself well, taking some hard shots well and proving too fast for Trinidad in landing several combinations of his own. Leonard then controls the 7th and most of the 8th before they go toe-to-toe in the 9th. Again, Leonard takes the shots from Trinidad well and is able to stick combinations and move before Trinidad can respond. Leonard controls the final round from a distance, absorbing a thunderous hook from Trinidad in the final 30 seconds. The critics were right, as Leonard proves too fast and too much for Trinidad, taking a unanimous decision 99-90 on all cards.
Ray Leonard UD 10 Felix Trinidad
GH
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