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Esta página no está disponible en español. Juan Gomez Trinidad Is Fine With Setup…He’s Knocked Out!… De La Hoya Working To Line Up Felix Trinidad Out Of Retirement
Gomez Trinidad Is Fine With Setup Paul Gutierrez June 19, 2003 The irony was definitely not lost on Juan Gomez Trinidad. If anything, the lightweight fighter from Puerto Rico relished his surroundings as he found himself not only smack in the middle of a gym belonging to his cousin's forever-linked rival, but also co-headlining a card promoted by the same man. "Oscar De La Hoya is very successful and well-respected so to be here is an honor," Gomez Trinidad said with a wink. "But you know that whenever Puerto Ricans and Mexicans get together in the ring, it's going to be a war." The fight-thirsty fans at the Grand Olympic Auditorium wouldn't have it any other way. Gomez Trinidad (23-2, 16 knockouts) will meet Javier Jauregui (45-10, 32 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico, in the main event of tonight's six-bout card -- an HBO Latino show promoted by De La Hoya's Boxeo de Oro -- in an International Boxing Federation lightweight elimination bout. The winner figures to get a title shot next against Stevie Johnston if current IBF 135-pound champ Paul Spadafora vacates the title and moves to 140 pounds, as expected. But for now, No. 5-ranked Gomez Trinidad is content to throw hands for 12 rounds with No. 4-ranked Jauregui in a match between two free swingers. It's an added bonus that his cousin, the retired (for now) Felix "Tito" Trinidad, who beat De La Hoya by majority decision in September 1999, will be in attendance. "We're closer than cousins; we call each other brothers," said Gomez Trinidad, whose mother Luz is a sister of Tito's father, Don Felix. "From the time I was 9 years old we've been together. We lived in the same house on the island." Maybe that's why Gomez Trinidad, 28, said he feels no pressure fighting in the Golden Boy's backyard. "I'm going to take this fight as if I was fighting in my living room," he said. "There's no pressure." And apparently, no shame either. Gomez Trinidad eagerly pulled out boxing gloves for De La Hoya to autograph and posed for pictures with him during Wednesday's weigh-in.
Jauregui Knocks Out Juan Trinidad By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 20, 2003 LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Javier Jauregui of Mexico stopped Juan Trinidad of Puerto Rico in the fourth round of a scheduled 12-round elimination bout for the IBF lightweight title on Thursday night at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. Jauregui floored Trinidad with a double left hook in the fourth round, prompting referee Raul Caiz to stop the fight. Jauregui also sent Trinidad to the canvas twice, once late in the second round and another in the third. Both times Trinidad was saved by the bell. Jauregui improved his record to 46-10-2 with 33 knockouts. Trinidad, who is the cousin of former world champion Felix Trinidad, is 23-3 with 16 knockouts. Both fighters weighed 134 1/2 pounds.
De La Hoya Working To Line Up Trinidad Boxer Trying Desperately To Lure Onetime Nemesis Out Of Retirement. By CALVIN WATKINS (Staff Writer) June 22, 2003 LOS ANGELES - Oscar De La Hoya sat in a conference room at the Holiday Inn this week talking about the most painful loss of his career. De La Hoya's two losses have come against Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad. The one that nags him is the 1999 loss to Trinidad. De La Hoya was dominating the fight until he stopped fighting in the late stages and lost a majority decision. Trinidad has since retired. And before De La Hoya can retire from the sport, he wants to avenge both losses. In September, he will meet Mosley in Las Vegas. Fighting Trinidad might never happen. But De La Hoya is encouraged by conversations he has had with Trinidad the last few months. "I can guarantee you it's going to happen," De La Hoya said. "I can't wait. I don't have nightmares or lose any sleep over those last three rounds. If we fight again, it will be a different story. We will work on it little by little." Trinidad, who is in town to watch his cousin fight at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, said he respects De La Hoya but doesn't think he will come out of retirement. Rumors had Trinidad planning a comeback while waiting for his promotional contract with Don King to expire. Then Trinidad would sign with another promoter or promote himself. He would have one or two tune-up bouts then meet De La Hoya next year. "I don't know when it expires, and it doesn't matter," Trinidad said. "It could expire today, right now. I'm not coming back. I said no more, and that's it." Still, De La Hoya is convinced Trinidad is coming back. The two fighters have exchanged home phone numbers and live near each other in Puerto Rico. "I keep on telling him 'Lets make that fight,'" De La Hoya said. "There are little hints that he's given me or people around him. It's a matter of time. We're not very, very close, but we're on the right track." A rematch could generate a $15 million purse for each, plus more income from pay-per-view sales. Trinidad said money isn't a factor. He wanted to leave the sport with his own health and a healthy bank account. Since his retirement, Trinidad, who last fought at 160 pounds, has shadow boxed nearly five times and weighs 185 pounds. He attends major fights, such as the Roy Jones Jr.-John Ruiz heavyweight title bout in March, and watches his cousin, lightweight contender Juan Gomez-Trinidad. De La Hoya is busy promoting fights and chasing the men who have beaten him in the ring. "I'm thrilled I'm getting an opportunity to get revenge [on Mosley]," De La Hoya said. "It goes with the two fights I need personally in my career. I'm not going in there just to win, I just want to throw everything I have in the ring and fight really hard."
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