Felix: Let’s get ready to celebrate

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999 | 10:29 a.m.

His head repetitively bobbing up and down as if he were nothing more than an ornament in the back window of a car, Felix "Tito" Trinidad gave the appearance he was simply along for the ride.

With a limited understanding of English despite allegedly studying the language for the past year, Oscar De La Hoya's Saturday opponent at Mandalay Bay handled his emotions via remote control during the bulk of Wednesday's final prefight press conference at the Paris hotel-casino.

Regardless of what was being said, Trinidad, more likely out of nervousness than anything else, sat and nodded in quiet agreement.

That is, until it was his time to speak.

Coming alive and utilizing a tone that was nothing if not emphatic, the International Boxing Federation welterweight champion was demonstrative in stating he expects to win the too-tough-to-call showdown and that he'll do it by devastating knockout.

"I know De La Hoya has a lot of fans," he said, an interpreter relaying his message. "And I know he'll get the support of those fans when we're in the ring. But it doesn't matter, because it'll be just me and him in there alone and I'm going to show him who I am.

"I'm going to knock him out in the sixth round."

Raising his voice for further emphasis, Trinidad said he would make good on his prediction and send his fellow Puerto Ricans into an unparalleled frenzy.

"We're going to celebrate like never before," he said. "I've promised it and that's how it's going to be."

He also spoke briefly with reporters afterward, reiterating his confidence in what is easily the biggest fight of his career. It's also De La Hoya's biggest fight to date, in spite of claims he felt Ike Quartey was a greater threat when they met earlier this year.

"I don't see how De La Hoya can end the fight on his feet," Trinidad said. "By the time the fight's over, everyone will know who's the best."

It might be Trinidad.

At 26, he is the sport's longest-reigning champion in any weight class, having held the IBF 147-pound title since June of 1993. He not only is undefeated at 35-0 with 30 knockouts, he is 15-0 in world-title fights.

Among the better fighters Trinidad has faced and conquered are Maurice Blocker, Hector Camacho, Yory Boy Campas, Oba Carr, Freddie Pendleton and Pernell Whitaker. Nonetheless there are some fans who question the overall caliber of his opposition through the years, much of which has been spent rounding out promoter Don King's more lavish undercards.

"He didn't recognize how valuable I was at first," Trinidad said of King, who is co-promoting this fight along with Bob Arum. "He never got me the recognition I thought I deserved. De La Hoya has gotten that type of recognition, but only by luck."

If that's jealousy speaking, it may only add to Trinidad's motivation. As it is, he's being paid $10.5 million for a fight that will guarantee De La Hoya $15 million.

"I always thought he was chicken," Trinidad said of a perceived reluctance on De La Hoya's part to accept the unification fight. "It seemed like he wouldn't do it and that he was afraid.

"We'll see how he acts in the ring."

The chicken has become symbolic for Trinidad in this fight, as he has had images of chickens surrounding him in the weeks leading up to this widely anticipated clash of champions. For instance, a rubber chicken hangs from a porch post at the Trinidad's home and a rubber chicken has hung from a ring post during his workouts.

This week he had a picture of a chicken drawn on a small bag he was using during his workouts at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Whether it proves to be inspirational or merely foolish remains to be seen but the Trinidad camp certainly doesn't appear intimidated by the Golden Boy.

"I really don't believe this fight will last more than six rounds," said Trinidad's father and trainer, Don Felix Trinidad. "Tito's in perfect shape and has sparred 219 rounds for this fight. There has been a lot of talk about who's better between them, but people will know the truth after this fight."

The truth about Tito is that he is a big puncher looking at the chance of a lifetime. This is by far his biggest payday and it is, at last, an opportunity to cement his reputation as a dangerous slugger with sufficient skills to handle an opponent many perceive as marginally unbeatable.

But Trinidad does have a weakness: his chin. Six times in his professional career he has been on the floor, each early and each somewhat forgotten by the completion of a fight he has always come back to win.

He is also felt to be susceptible to counterpunches, and De La Hoya can be an effective counterpuncher.

Nonetheless, Trinidad has asserted himself at every opportunity to state he will whip the World Boxing Council champion within six rounds.

"When I get my hands on a fighter, he usually falls," Trinidad said. "De La Hoya will, too. He won't be able to take my punishment."

De La Hoya, also 26, is 31-0 with 25 knockouts in a storied, if still developing, career that includes an Olympic gold medal. Wednesday at Paris in its sports book, he was a minus 120 favorite and Trinidad was even.

A mutual opponent, Whitaker, says Trinidad will win and that "he's much better than Oscar and I should know." Whitaker lost to each man by decision, most recently to Trinidad in February.

National and personal pride appears to be driving Trinidad, whose wife, Sharon, is pregnant with their second child. The fighter said he's committed to winning and being portrayed as a hero in his homeland.

"I lead a clean life and I want to be a role model for my people," Trinidad said, indirectly alluding to fellow Puerto Rican fighters like Wilfredo Gomez (arrested for cocaine possession), Edwin Rosario (died of a drug overdose) and Esteban DeJesus (died of AIDS) who reached the top in boxing but later saw their lives dissolve in shame.

"I'm a good person and I'm the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world," Trinidad said as others bobbed their heads in agreement.