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Felix TrinidadPuerto Rican professional boxer
Date of Birth: 10.01.1973
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Felix Trinidad
Puerto Rican professional boxer Felix "Tito" Trinidad earned the title of "great" throughout his career and joined the ranks of legendary middleweights such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilio, Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns, and Pernell Whitaker. The prestigious boxing magazine "Ring" even ranked Trinidad as the 51st greatest boxer of the past 80 years in all weight categories.
Early Life
Felix Trinidad began his boxing career at the age of 12 on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, the birthplace of many great boxers. Surrounded by the sport from a young age, Trinidad's father and manager, Felix Trinidad Sr., was a Puerto Rican boxing champion in the featherweight division in the mid-1970s. During his amateur career, Trinidad won the Puerto Rican championship five times in five different weight categories (100, 112, 119, 126, and 132 pounds). Despite his amateur record of 51-6, with only 12 knockouts, Trinidad's talent and determination were evident from an early age.
Professional Career
After being overlooked for the 1992 Olympic Games, Trinidad's father realized they were fed up with politics and decided to turn professional. Trinidad made his professional debut on March 10, 1990, at the age of 17. He quickly established himself as a knockout artist, winning his first five fights by knockout and nine out of his first ten. With an impressive record of 29 knockouts in 33 fights, Trinidad boasted one of the highest knockout victory percentages (90%) in boxing history.
Trinidad's desire to face the best fighters was evident from the beginning of his career, often meeting strong resistance. In a bout on December 9, 1991, he faced the more experienced Jake Rodriguez. Despite injuring his right hand in the second round and his left hand in the fourth, Trinidad persevered and won the 10-round fight by unanimous decision. This fight showcased his resilience and determination.
On June 19, 1993, Trinidad won his first championship title in the welterweight division by defeating two-time world champion Maurice Blocker. Trinidad dominated the fight from the start, delivering powerful blows with both hands. In the middle of the second round, Trinidad unleashed a devastating knockout punch, solidifying his reputation as a powerful puncher.
Trinidad successfully defended his title in subsequent fights, including a victory against Anthony Stephens on October 23, 1993, where he overcame a knockdown in the second round and ultimately knocked out Stephens in the tenth round. On January 29, 1994, Trinidad scored a decisive victory over Hector "Macho" Camacho, solidifying his status as one of the best boxers in the world. This fight elevated Trinidad's reputation, as Camacho was extremely popular at the time.
In September 1994, Trinidad faced Alberto Cortes, an Argentinean fighter with an impressive record. Trinidad suffered his first knockdowns in this fight but turned the tables on Cortes in the third round, unleashing a barrage of punches that forced the referee to stop the fight. This victory showcased Trinidad's ability to overcome adversity and finish strong.
Trinidad continued his success in the welterweight division, defending his title against multiple challengers. On September 17, 1994, he faced the undefeated Oba "Motor City" Carr, who had an impressive record of 56-0 with 50 knockouts. Trinidad was knocked down in the second round but rallied back, sending Carr to the canvas twice and ultimately securing a knockout victory in the eighth round.
In 1999, Trinidad moved up to the middleweight division and defeated William Joppy, the reigning WBA middleweight champion. This victory marked Trinidad's transition to a higher weight class and showcased his devastating power. He became a two-weight world champion, holding both the WBA and IBF titles simultaneously.
Trinidad's career culminated in the World Middleweight Championship Series, where he faced Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins in a highly anticipated showdown. Despite starting strong, Trinidad suffered his first defeat when Hopkins knocked him down and ultimately stopped the fight in the final round. The loss to Hopkins marked a turning point in Trinidad's career.
After taking a break from boxing, Trinidad returned to the ring in 2002 and defeated Hassine Cherifi by technical knockout in the fourth round. He continued to fight top contenders and expressed his desire to face fighters such as Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Roy Jones Jr. Fans eagerly await any potential matchups involving Trinidad, as he continues to be one of the most beloved and respected boxers in the sport.
