Boxing - The Sweet Science

[mr.mark]

The Return of Tito Trinidad and Others

by Ferdie Pacheco, "The Fight Doctor"
4/25/02

Circle May 11 on your calendar. That's when my favorite fighter Felix "Tito" Trinidad takes his first steps back inside the spotlight of "Big Time Boxing. "

It's been months since Tito suffered a shocking beating and KO at the hands of Bernard Hopkins. He has spent the months following the shocker, in Puerto Rico licking his wounds, planning and dreaming of the day he can come back and place himself back on the pedestal. His rest has not been easy. For once in his life he got himself into problems with a woman. Lawsuits are flying. Tito, a very clean young man, finds himself embarrassed and confused.

So, it's time to clean the slate by returning to the glory road. His first test will not be a hard one. It's more of a reassuring return tune up, in front of an adoring audience in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Let's look at Hacine Cherifi, 32-5-1 19 KOs, a baldheaded, tough, ex champion. Not too easy, not too hard, just right.

Cherifi won the WBC middleweight title from Keith Holmes in an upset. He then gave it back to Keith in seven rounds. Then Cherifi took on William Joppy who proved too much for him. A good year ago, in a mild surprise, Cherifi was out-pointed by unbeaten Harry Simon, of Namibia.

It will be exciting to see Trinidad turn up his awesome machine, but then, come the riches:

Tito vs. Bernard Hopkins (a toss up, but I'll take Tito). Tito vs. the winner of Vargas vs. Oscar de la Hoya (lick your chops for this one). I think he'll have a tougher time with Vargas than with de la Hoya. So far as we can guess, Tito says it'll be three and out for retirement. I don't think so. He's too good to retire while he is still on top, and young.

Having satisfied our great curiosity about Tito, we now have a double treat, blue plate special to devour. A perfect, tossup, pickem fight between heavy punching, hungry Miami fighter Randall Bailey against Cuba's Diobelys Hurtado.

These levels of fighters, as good as they are, are still on the second level compared with the tough Super Champ Kostya Tszyu, master of all he surveys. He too will be on top Saturday May 18th from Las Vegas, when SHOWTIME brings you Tszyu vs. Ben Tackie

Back to the long awaited contest between Bailey and Diobelys Hurtado. Bailey lost his championship to Ener Julio on a controversial split decision then came back with 3 blowout victories and then knocked out Demetrio Ceballes of Panama. Bailey is on the war path. He is snorting fire.

Hurtado, 34-2-1 22 KOs, is a class fighter. When he loses, it's to the best.

His first loss was to Pernel Whitaker, which he lost after leading the entire fight on points. Tszyu leveled him after five wonderful toe to toe action filled rounds, so the loss was no disgrace.

This figures to be a great fight if you like to see fighters match wits and strategies. Look for the Diobles the finer boxer to build a lead, then the stronger, heavier puncher Randall Bailey to pull even. And, then, folks, we're in that championship corridor where we separate the men from the boys. I'm leaning on so lightly to, Diobles, but it really is a tossup.

It's always a great night when we get to see Kostya Tszyu fight. I don't care if he's fighting a kangaroo. He's one of a fistful of fighters the public, outside of boxing, will tune in to watch. His opponent is not much, Ben "Wonder" Tackie, but who cares? Also in a more level fight Oba Carr (remember him?) fights Hercules Kyvelos (Canadian Welterweight Champ) which is more of an even contest and should be interesting.

These two bouts will be seen Saturday May 18 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas at 9:00 p.m. on Showtime

Ferdie Pacheco "The Fight Doctor"

http://www.sho.com/scboxing/columnists_ferdie_fightdoctor.cfm?article=ferdie_042502.cfm