Trinidad-Jones Jr.

jofre · 08-13-2007, 11:36 PM

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Felix Trinidad doesn't speak English so well, yet made his position very clear.

Only one fighter could lure him from retirement: Roy Jones Jr.
"Roy Jones is one of the biggest and greatest champions ever in boxing," Trinidad said Monday. "But he's never faced a puncher like me."

He will in January, when the two stars meet at an undetermined site in what promoter Don King is already calling "the people's championship." Both have agreed to fight at 170 pounds — 10 pounds more than Trinidad has ever carried into the ring, and five less than what Jones weighed when he beat previously undefeated Anthony Hanshaw last month.

"It's a unique, special event that this sport needs," Jones said. "If you can't put it on the line for this, then you can't put it on the line for anything. This is the type of thing you put it on the line for. The sport needs another megafight and that's what this is."

Trinidad hasn't fought since losing to Winky Wright in May 2005 and has only prevailed in two bouts in the last six years. But when King flew to Puerto Rico about two months ago to gauge his interest in a comeback, Trinidad quickly said he'd be open to a matchup with Jones.

"This is going to be one of the most thrilling events we've seen in boxing in many, many decades," King said. "This is about pleasing the people."

Trinidad signed his part of the contract Monday, and King said he'd move quickly to get a deal struck with Jones — who flew down from Pensacola, Fla. only hours after Trinidad formally agreed to the deal.

"I don't understand how Tito thinks he's going to win," said Jones' adviser, McGee Wright. "But he's a fighter and that's what we like. If he didn't think he could win, he wouldn't be there."

Trinidad is a former welterweight, super welterweight and middleweight champion and a national hero in his homeland of Puerto Rico. He took 2 1/2 years off before beating Ricardo Mayorga in 2004, but was dominated when he met Wright seven months later.

He retired again after that fight, but whispers of a Trinidad-Jones possible matchup have been circling for months.

"Most fighters of Tito Trinidad's stature would want a warmup fight after being off for this long," King said. "Not Tito Trinidad."

There was a sense last year that Trinidad was considering coming back to fight Oscar De La Hoya — which would have likely been a huge draw, given how close many thought their bout was in 1999 when Trinidad won a controversial decision for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles.

Over the weekend, De La Hoya reiterated that he doesn't expect that rematch — which has been talked about for years — to ever happen, since Trinidad likely isn't interested in dropping to his weight class.

"Sure, I'd fight Tito if he comes down to 154," De La Hoya said. "I think there's probably more realistic opportunities for me with other fights, though."

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Felix Trinidad Sr., the fighter's father, manager and trainer, said he probably wouldn't have agreed to another comeback try unless the potential fight had the marquee appeal he believes a Trinidad-Jones matchup will carry.

And he's not worried about the layoff, either.

"I can be proud to bring my son into battle with a giant such as Roy Jones," the elder Trinidad said. "My son's a legend, but so is Roy Jones. And Roy Jones has been there forever. He's made an indelible mark on people around the world."

Trinidad is 42-2; Jones Jr. is 51-4. Neither plans to fight before January matchup, and King hopes to have an exact date and site set soon.

"It's going to be a very big fight. A huge fight," Trinidad said. "I hear from Roy that somebody has to go down in this fight. I have to tell you Roy, it's going to be you. I always come to win."

mh2365 · 08-13-2007, 11:49 PM

I say Trinidad will win by KTFO 9 ... but who really cares. Jones is getting the money fight he wanted.

Ric915 · 08-14-2007, 12:10 AM

I'm with Mike on this one does anyone really care?

Romdawg88 · 08-14-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric915

I'm with Mike on this one does anyone really care?

Maybe if we could build a Time Machine, wrap back to 2001, and wipe our memories of the fact that Trinidad has been whipped easily in 2 of his last 4 fights otherwise I don't care either.

mh2365 · 08-14-2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Maybe if we could build a Time Machine, wrap back to 2001, and wipe our memories of the fact that Trinidad has been whipped easily in 2 of his last 4 fights otherwise I don't care either.

You seem to have a Time Machine on the mind lately .. anything you need to tell us?

Thunder · 08-14-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

You seem to have a Time Machine on the mind lately .. anything you need to tell us?

88 miles an hour!!

Thunder · 08-14-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric915

I'm with Mike on this one does anyone really care?

I sorta care. If someone gets the bright idea that this is a $59 PPV card, I stop caring. At $40, $45 I'm in. My guess is that it'll be at the fence-sitting price of $50.

For me, Roy really was fun to watch for a long, long time. But he's not the same guy.

Sometimes two guys past-prime can hook up for a beauty if they are in relatively the same place. But in this case, I think Roy's diminshing defensive skills might be too big a detriment to overcome even vs. Trinidad's diminshing offensive skils.

Romdawg88 · 08-14-2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

You seem to have a Time Machine on the mind lately .. anything you need to tell us?

Saw a chance to continue the Time Machine theme going so I took it.

sabotai · 08-14-2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder

88 miles an hour!!

1.21 gigawatts!? Great Scott!

hamed · 08-14-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder

I sorta care. If someone gets the bright idea that this is a $59 PPV card, I stop caring. At $40, $45 I'm in. My guess is that it'll be at the fence-sitting price of $50.

For me, Roy really was fun to watch for a long, long time. But he's not the same guy.

Sometimes two guys past-prime can hook up for a beauty if they are in relatively the same place. But in this case, I think Roy's diminshing defensive skills might be too big a detriment to overcome even vs. Trinidad's diminshing offensive skils.

Yeah, I agree with Thunder - this could be an interesting bout. 2 big names past their primes just might have enough left to put on a pretty good show. They say all great fighters have 1 great fight left in them so the motivation to look good/great one last time should be there for both guys.

BigFiasco · 08-14-2007, 01:23 PM

I just think this is gonna be a sleeper. As in, pull out the sleeper sofa, its gonna be a long boring night.

anyway i gotta take roy by close ud

mh2365 · 08-14-2007, 02:07 PM

My favortie part was where Roy said "This won't be like De La Hoya and Mayweather where it was a dance party, here you have two guys with KO power who like to fight"

uh Roy, one too many shots to the head?

hamed · 08-14-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

My favortie part was where Roy said "This won't be like De La Hoya and Mayweather where it was a dance party, here you have two guys with KO power who like to fight"

uh Roy, one too many shots to the head?

Maybe he was half right Mike - Tito would prefer to try & slug it out with Roy. Will be interesting to see what sort of power he brings up to 170 & how rusty/sharp he is?

mh2365 · 08-14-2007, 04:42 PM

That was my point, even during his heyday Roy was more Mayweather than Tito

hamed · 08-14-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

That was my point, even during his heyday Roy was more Mayweather than Tito

True, you really think Tito wins? I can see where this could be a boring fight if Roy just moves & boxes. Tito has lost that way before & if Roy did it to a younger, bigger, stronger Hanshaw, he can probably do the same to a slower, older, smaller Tito too.

mh2365 · 08-14-2007, 06:24 PM

I think Tito has a bigger punch than Hanshaw and I think Jones is going to struggle to make the weight. Biggest problem will be that the winner will still think he is relevant

Mad Bomber · 08-14-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFiasco

I just think this is gonna be a sleeper. As in, pull out the sleeper sofa, its gonna be a long boring night.

anyway i gotta take roy by close ud

I agree 100 % , but in my case I wouldn't get out of bed for this one. Mike also
makes a good point in the fact neither fighter is no longer relevent. Tito by
stoppage for what it's worth.

Greg

hamed · 08-15-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

I think Tito has a bigger punch than Hanshaw and I think Jones is going to struggle to make the weight. Biggest problem will be that the winner will still think he is relevant

LOL, well if that's the case, that could be entertaining too.

That's why the fight could be interesting, will Tito be able to catch Roy?

Also, I wonder why they agreed to 170, @ 168 (2 pounds less) it's a legit SMW fight.

Maybe the IBA or some body like that could make it a title bout.

mh2365 · 08-15-2007, 09:55 AM

I'll buy it if the undercard is good .. but knowing King he probably will put crap on the undercard thinking a fight 10 years too late is worth the PPV money alone.

hamed · 08-15-2007, 11:58 AM

Yes, I doubt the undercard will be much with 2 big names @ the top.

I saw the Vargas undercard isn't quite as good any more. Cintron should blow out some guy I never heard of & Karmazin is fighting again too.

The Rivera/Santos fight is now Oct. 6th (Manny undercard?) & the Collazo/Mitchell fight appears to be off now.

08-13-2007, 11:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
jofre All Star Starter Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,545	Trinidad-Jones Jr. DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Felix Trinidad doesn't speak English so well, yet made his position very clear. Only one fighter could lure him from retirement: Roy Jones Jr. "Roy Jones is one of the biggest and greatest champions ever in boxing," Trinidad said Monday. "But he's never faced a puncher like me." He will in January, when the two stars meet at an undetermined site in what promoter Don King is already calling "the people's championship." Both have agreed to fight at 170 pounds — 10 pounds more than Trinidad has ever carried into the ring, and five less than what Jones weighed when he beat previously undefeated Anthony Hanshaw last month. "It's a unique, special event that this sport needs," Jones said. "If you can't put it on the line for this, then you can't put it on the line for anything. This is the type of thing you put it on the line for. The sport needs another megafight and that's what this is." Trinidad hasn't fought since losing to Winky Wright in May 2005 and has only prevailed in two bouts in the last six years. But when King flew to Puerto Rico about two months ago to gauge his interest in a comeback, Trinidad quickly said he'd be open to a matchup with Jones. "This is going to be one of the most thrilling events we've seen in boxing in many, many decades," King said. "This is about pleasing the people." Trinidad signed his part of the contract Monday, and King said he'd move quickly to get a deal struck with Jones — who flew down from Pensacola, Fla. only hours after Trinidad formally agreed to the deal. "I don't understand how Tito thinks he's going to win," said Jones' adviser, McGee Wright. "But he's a fighter and that's what we like. If he didn't think he could win, he wouldn't be there." Trinidad is a former welterweight, super welterweight and middleweight champion and a national hero in his homeland of Puerto Rico. He took 2 1/2 years off before beating Ricardo Mayorga in 2004, but was dominated when he met Wright seven months later. He retired again after that fight, but whispers of a Trinidad-Jones possible matchup have been circling for months. "Most fighters of Tito Trinidad's stature would want a warmup fight after being off for this long," King said. "Not Tito Trinidad." There was a sense last year that Trinidad was considering coming back to fight Oscar De La Hoya — which would have likely been a huge draw, given how close many thought their bout was in 1999 when Trinidad won a controversial decision for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles. Over the weekend, De La Hoya reiterated that he doesn't expect that rematch — which has been talked about for years — to ever happen, since Trinidad likely isn't interested in dropping to his weight class. "Sure, I'd fight Tito if he comes down to 154," De La Hoya said. "I think there's probably more realistic opportunities for me with other fights, though." advertisement STORY TOOLS: print send blog LIKE THIS STORY? Felix Trinidad Sr., the fighter's father, manager and trainer, said he probably wouldn't have agreed to another comeback try unless the potential fight had the marquee appeal he believes a Trinidad-Jones matchup will carry. And he's not worried about the layoff, either. "I can be proud to bring my son into battle with a giant such as Roy Jones," the elder Trinidad said. "My son's a legend, but so is Roy Jones. And Roy Jones has been there forever. He's made an indelible mark on people around the world." Trinidad is 42-2; Jones Jr. is 51-4. Neither plans to fight before January matchup, and King hopes to have an exact date and site set soon. "It's going to be a very big fight. A huge fight," Trinidad said. "I hear from Roy that somebody has to go down in this fight. I have to tell you Roy, it's going to be you. I always come to win." __________________ jofre

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08-13-2007, 11:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	I say Trinidad will win by KTFO 9 ... but who really cares. Jones is getting the money fight he wanted.

08-14-2007, 12:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ric915 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Prescott, Arizona Posts: 794	I'm with Mike on this one does anyone really care?

08-14-2007, 01:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
BigFiasco Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 79	I just think this is gonna be a sleeper. As in, pull out the sleeper sofa, its gonna be a long boring night. anyway i gotta take roy by close ud

08-14-2007, 02:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	My favortie part was where Roy said "This won't be like De La Hoya and Mayweather where it was a dance party, here you have two guys with KO power who like to fight" uh Roy, one too many shots to the head?

08-14-2007, 04:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	That was my point, even during his heyday Roy was more Mayweather than Tito

08-14-2007, 06:24 PM	#16 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	I think Tito has a bigger punch than Hanshaw and I think Jones is going to struggle to make the weight. Biggest problem will be that the winner will still think he is relevant

08-15-2007, 09:55 AM	#19 (permalink)
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,963 Warnings: 2	I'll buy it if the undercard is good .. but knowing King he probably will put crap on the undercard thinking a fight 10 years too late is worth the PPV money alone.

08-15-2007, 11:58 AM	#20 (permalink)
hamed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,073	Yes, I doubt the undercard will be much with 2 big names @ the top. I saw the Vargas undercard isn't quite as good any more. Cintron should blow out some guy I never heard of & Karmazin is fighting again too. The Rivera/Santos fight is now Oct. 6th (Manny undercard?) & the Collazo/Mitchell fight appears to be off now.