A few days ago, Felix "Tito" Trinidad told the press that although he remains retired for the time being, he is willing to make a one-fight comeback to face the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya. According to Trinidad, there is an offer on the table to make the fight happen next year, presumably on May 5th, which is a date that De La Hoya has reserved for his farewell bout. Trinidad has also said that the fight must take place at 160.
De La Hoya quickly responded to Trinidad's comments, saying that he would have no problem with the fight taking place at 160.
Their first fight, which took place seven years ago at 147, was the biggest grossing non-heavyweight bout in history, doing an estimated 1.4 million PPV buys. The fight, which Trinidad won by Majority Decision, seemed to leave a lot of fans with a sour taste in their mouths, particularly because a rematch never materialized. De La Hoya was clearly ahead in the scorecards going into the 9th, but then he began to run away from Tito, giving up the final four rounds. No doubt, this was a decision that has haunted Oscar throughout his career.
In 1999, of course, there was much more at stake for both of them: they were both undefeated, they both held welterweight belts, and they were both in the prime of their careers.
Nonetheless, I think if they were to fight a rematch next year, it would still be a pretty even match-up. When you compare both these guys, it's amazing how many similarities there are: They are both the same age and height, for one thing. They both have victories over Mayorga, Vargas, Whitaker, Camacho, Campas and Oba Carr, and they both lost to the same guy: Bernard Hopkins.
They both looked amazing in their first-comeback-bouts against Mayorga. Nonetheless, Oscar has fought most recently, so he has the advantage there. Style-wise, Trinidad is the puncher and De La Hoya is the boxer, so if the fight were to take place at 160, it would definitely benefit Tito (especially considering how awful Oscar looked in his only two fights at that weight-class, against Sturm and Hopkins).
Money-wise, it's the fight that makes the most sense. There's no doubt it would out-gross a potential De La Hoya-Mayweather bout, given the Mexican-Puerto Rican rivarly, and given that Mayweather still hasn't quite solidified himself as a great PPV draw.
Honestly, I think its a fight that makes sense for both guys. For Oscar, we're talking less risk and more money than if he were to fight Mayweather. He strongly believes he can beat Trinidad, and he would like nothing more than to end his career with a victory over the man who first beat him. Trinidad, on the other hand, cannot be pleased with the way he went out against Winky Wright. He doesn't want to be remembered for that fight, in which he was virtually shut-out. This fight would give him a chance to redeem himself, to go out on a victory, while, yeah, cashing in on another $15-million-plus payday.
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On another note, it seems likely that Miguel Cotto will face off against fellow undefeated Puerto Rican Carlos Quintana on December 2nd (as the co-feature to Margarito-Clottey on Showtime). The fight would be for the WBA Welterweight Title recently vacated by Ricky Hatton.
Quintana, who is 23-0 (18 KOs), is coming off an impressive victory over super-prospect Joel Julio. Cotto, 27-0 (22 KOs), has said he will make his next fight at welterweight, after having successfuly defended his Jr. Welterweight title on seven occasions.