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Felix Trinidad is one of my favourite fighters to watch, but he only ever excelled against weaker opposition. Let's look at his career highlights:
Maurice Blocker
If it wasn't for the title being on the line, the Thin Man would be another nobody like the previous 19 victims who aren't even worth mentioning here. A second round KO is decent but it was on the heels of exactly the same feat being performed by Terrible Terry Norris just three months earlier.
Hector Camacho
You can't deny that Macho is a great name to have on your resume, but for a big punching Welterweight titlist defeating a former Super Featherweight at leat two years past his prime is not much of a feat.
Yory Boy Campas
Undefeated Yory Boy Campas had an impressive 56-0 record coming into this fight. Until you realise that his plus fifty wins were against bartenders, cab drivers and farm boys. His fifty fifth fight was a ten rounder against a guy with a losing record! Who does he think he is? Apollo Creed?
Oba Carr
Another undefeated fighter but the 0 in the "losses" column is the only thing that stood out about his record. Being the "most mediocre" is technically an oxymoron but it would aptly describe the achievements of the fighters Oba Carr faced before Trinidad.
Freddy "Punch Bag" Pendleton
Another name by name alone, Freddy was later to have his career ended by Jr Welterweight Ricky Hatton. He already had 20 losses by the time he fought Trinidad. Who was Tito's promoter again? Frank Warren?
Sweet Pea Pernell Whittaker
Known for his silky skills, sublime defence and more importantly his complete lack of power, a past-his-sell-by-date Pernell Whittaker was an ideal face for Felix Trinidad to showcase his talents without having to worry about his lack of a chin.
Oscar De La Hoya
If it wasn't for the fact that the judges didn't seem to realise that 12 rounds have equal weight then this would have been Trinidad's first loss. I scored it 116-112 to De La Hoya. So did everyone else in the world. Apart from the three myopic judges.
David "Lazy Eye" Reid
The fact that he won the WBA Light Middeweight title in just 12 fights is testament to the weakness of the division rather than the strength of Reid.
Fernando Vargas
Another undefeated tomato can, Vargas went on to lose to everyone of note that he faced. Last seen at the buffet line, his performances against anyone of any ability can be best described as "lacklustre".
Wiliam Joppy
Beating Joppy to win a middleweight strap was the worst thing that could have happened to an increasingly podgy Trinidad. Because it mean that he would next face a true middleweight in Bernard Hopkins. He only held a title because the WBA liked him. I deduced this by virtue of the fact that after losing his WBA title to Trinidad his very next fight against Howard Eastman was for... the WBA title.
Bernard Hopkins
Hopkins won the fight before it even began. His calculated comment about Puerto Rico had Trinidad flustered and angry and on the receiving end of a one-sided 12 round beating. The first time fighting someone of genuine ability resulted in a robbery in his favour. The second time resulted in a TKO loss.
Ricardo Mayorga
Famous for saying mean things about his opponents, Mayorga's record reads like a Who's Who of people who have beaten Ricardo Mayorga.
Winky Wright
Boring boring Winky proved that a disciplined jab and a good guard could shut Trinidad down. Even repeated checky shots and the nuts failed to dent Winky's determination and Trinidad temporarily retied to save himself further blushes....
...until...
...an ill advised comeback against Superman
Roy Jones Jr
Battle of the has-beens, before the fight it was unlcear who was the more shot, Trinidad or Jones. After the fight it was pretty obvious.
Felix Trinidad was a great fighter to watch, he just wasn't that good.
Maurice Blocker
If it wasn't for the title being on the line, the Thin Man would be another nobody like the previous 19 victims who aren't even worth mentioning here. A second round KO is decent but it was on the heels of exactly the same feat being performed by Terrible Terry Norris just three months earlier.
Hector Camacho
You can't deny that Macho is a great name to have on your resume, but for a big punching Welterweight titlist defeating a former Super Featherweight at leat two years past his prime is not much of a feat.
Yory Boy Campas
Undefeated Yory Boy Campas had an impressive 56-0 record coming into this fight. Until you realise that his plus fifty wins were against bartenders, cab drivers and farm boys. His fifty fifth fight was a ten rounder against a guy with a losing record! Who does he think he is? Apollo Creed?
Oba Carr
Another undefeated fighter but the 0 in the "losses" column is the only thing that stood out about his record. Being the "most mediocre" is technically an oxymoron but it would aptly describe the achievements of the fighters Oba Carr faced before Trinidad.
Freddy "Punch Bag" Pendleton
Another name by name alone, Freddy was later to have his career ended by Jr Welterweight Ricky Hatton. He already had 20 losses by the time he fought Trinidad. Who was Tito's promoter again? Frank Warren?
Sweet Pea Pernell Whittaker
Known for his silky skills, sublime defence and more importantly his complete lack of power, a past-his-sell-by-date Pernell Whittaker was an ideal face for Felix Trinidad to showcase his talents without having to worry about his lack of a chin.
Oscar De La Hoya
If it wasn't for the fact that the judges didn't seem to realise that 12 rounds have equal weight then this would have been Trinidad's first loss. I scored it 116-112 to De La Hoya. So did everyone else in the world. Apart from the three myopic judges.
David "Lazy Eye" Reid
The fact that he won the WBA Light Middeweight title in just 12 fights is testament to the weakness of the division rather than the strength of Reid.
Fernando Vargas
Another undefeated tomato can, Vargas went on to lose to everyone of note that he faced. Last seen at the buffet line, his performances against anyone of any ability can be best described as "lacklustre".
Wiliam Joppy
Beating Joppy to win a middleweight strap was the worst thing that could have happened to an increasingly podgy Trinidad. Because it mean that he would next face a true middleweight in Bernard Hopkins. He only held a title because the WBA liked him. I deduced this by virtue of the fact that after losing his WBA title to Trinidad his very next fight against Howard Eastman was for... the WBA title.
Bernard Hopkins
Hopkins won the fight before it even began. His calculated comment about Puerto Rico had Trinidad flustered and angry and on the receiving end of a one-sided 12 round beating. The first time fighting someone of genuine ability resulted in a robbery in his favour. The second time resulted in a TKO loss.
Ricardo Mayorga
Famous for saying mean things about his opponents, Mayorga's record reads like a Who's Who of people who have beaten Ricardo Mayorga.
Winky Wright
Boring boring Winky proved that a disciplined jab and a good guard could shut Trinidad down. Even repeated checky shots and the nuts failed to dent Winky's determination and Trinidad temporarily retied to save himself further blushes....
...until...
...an ill advised comeback against Superman
Roy Jones Jr
Battle of the has-beens, before the fight it was unlcear who was the more shot, Trinidad or Jones. After the fight it was pretty obvious.
Felix Trinidad was a great fighter to watch, he just wasn't that good.
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