Twenty years ago, on December 2, 2000, Mexico and Puerto Rico delivered another chapter to their long and thrilling history.
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When he fought 22-12 months-antique Fernando Vargas, Felix Trinidad (42–three, 35 KOs) of Puerto Rico became in the center of the best stretch of his career (26–5, 22 KOs).
After years of not being capable of get big fights at Welterweight at the same time as preserving the IBF Welterweight identify, inclusive of a bid to combat Terry Norris at 154 kilos in 1997 that brought about a lawsuit with promoter Don King in 1998 that the Puerto Rican misplaced, he finally were given fights towards big names in 1999.
In February 1999, at Madison Square Garden, Trinidad could beat an older Pernell Whitaker for the first time in his career. In September 1999, he fought Oscar De La Hoya in one of the most-anticipated boxing fits ever.
A combat between two guys in their primes, each 26 years antique, both skilled champions, and both tough-hitting. Add to that the rivalry among Mexico and Puerto Rico, and you had the makings of something truely unique.
Unfortunately, the fight among Trinidad and De La Hoya appeared higher on paper than it did inside the ring. Fans noticed a awful fight with a arguable finishing wherein Trinidad gained via a majority selection.
The fight made a variety of cash. At the time, 1.Four million human beings bought the pay-according to-view, which become a non-heavyweight document.
When Trinidad left the Welterweight division, he did in order the longest-reigning Welterweight champion in records, having held the identify for 6 years, eight months, and fourteen days.
In March 2000, Trinidad moved up to Junior Middleweight and fought WBA champion, David Reid. Reid knocked Trinidad down, however Trinidad went directly to knock Reid down numerous more instances and win through unanimous selection.
Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, and David Reid, all of whom won gold medals at the Olympics, have been all overwhelmed by Trinidad.
After defending his title in opposition to Mamadou Thiam inside the summer of 2000 and preventing him within the third spherical, Trinidad changed into prepared for a unification combat with another Junior Middleweight champion.
— Kenny Escobar (@QuantumKenny) June 25, 2022
Fernando Vargas had an extended newbie profession and represented the U.S. At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He commenced his expert profession by preventing his first 14 fighters. In December 1998, he confronted Yory Boy Campas for the IBF Junior Middleweight identify.
Vargas would stop Campas after seven one-sided rounds when Campas gave up in his nook. At 21 years antique, Vargas changed into the youngest Junior Middleweight champion ever.
At the give up of 1999, whilst he fought Ronald “Winky” Wright of Saint Petersburg, Florida, Vargas stepped up his stage of opposition. He gained a close and arguable majority selection.
In April 2000, Vargas won a unanimous choice towards former Welterweight champion Ike Quartey in one of the first-rate fights of the year and probably the first-rate performance of his profession.
Vargas would make one extra defense of his identify, getting a TKO over Ross Thompson in the fourth round earlier than preventing Trinidad to unify the titles.
Vargas set the same old for young combatants who want to undertaking themselves at this kind of young age. Boxing is a sport for younger men, and the best way to get experience is to do it.
Vargas had to guard his IBF name 5 instances before he fought Trinidad.
As a joint promotion with Don King and Main Events, HBO’s TVKO pay-according to-view would show the Trinidad-Vargas fight. In a yr full of all-time brilliant fights, just like the first fight inside the trilogy among Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and Oscar De La Hoya’s extraordinary fight with Shane Mosley on the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Trinidad-Vargas could give fans one extra night time to take into account.
