(Editor's Note - comments translated from Spanish to English by Mark Vester)

By Mark Vester

In a recent interview with  Primera Hora , former champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad revealed that he recently visited his old rival Oscar De La Hoya, who is currently training in Puerto Rico for his May 5 battle with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in Las Vegas, and offered some kind words and support.

Trinidad gives De La Hoya the edge in the fight because of his size and experience.

"I went to see how Oscar was doing and spoke with him. I wished him good luck in the fight and I told that he has all the potential to beat Mayweather, Trinidad said. "Oscar is a little taller and in his natural weight (154 pounds).  The day of the fight, his weight should rise by eight or ten pounds, giving him a good advantage on Mayweather.  Therefore it is going to go well for De La Hoya."

"He has experience. He's been in the big fights before. He fought me, Ike Quartey, Shane Mosley, Pernell Whitaker and Bernard Hopkins. Mayweather has a tough boxing style, but it should not be such a hard fight. Oscar is a healthy boxer outside of the ring and that is important.  I imagine that by the work that he's done for the last few months, he will showcase an intelligent fight." 

When asked about De La Hoya's reputation for tiring in the late rounds, Trinidad admits that it happened when he fought Oscar in 99, but does not see that happening against Mayweather on May 5.

"That was something that happened him when we fought (September of 1999).  It was notable in the final rounds of the fight. Late in the fight, he was tired and then I took advantage of it by pressing him.  But in this fight it's not the same thing, because Mayweather is not the same kind of fighter (as me)," Trinidad said. 

"I consider Freddie Roach a tremendous trainer by the work that he's done with Manny Pacquiao, one of the better fighters in the world.  What is important is that Oscar should be the aggressor. It is what he said that he will do that night, that he will go forward by fighting Mayweather for every second of every round." 

Trinidad then took to the time to answer the claims of Zab Judah, who takes on WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on June 9 in New York's Madison Square Garden.

On more than one occassion, Judah has said in the press that even Trinidad, one of Cotto's own countrymen, will support him in the fight. Contrary to what Judah has said in the press, Trinidad has recently spoken with Miguel Cotto and let him know that he will be supporting him against Judah on June 9.

"As everyone knows, I spent a good part of my career with promoter Don King and so did Zab Judah. We fought on several cards together where I was the main event and Judah was on the undercard. We still talk when we see each other, but as a Boricua, I give my support to Cotto. At the moment of the truth, blood weighs more to me than water, Trinidad said.