Madison Square Garden
October 2, 2004

Trinidad vs. Mayorga

The level of anticipation reminded me of waiting for a rocket to fall out of the Iraqi sky during the Gulf War. Finally after all the hoopla, it was time for the only bout I wanted to see. Ricardo “El Matador “Mayorga came out with orange hair, and black trucks. Felix Trinidad wore red trucks. Both boxers looked confident and determined.

I gotta say I was more than a little concerned for Felix, who had been away for over two years, to be stepping into the ring with the likes of Mayorga. The only thing more audacious then Mayorga’s mouth is his willingness to trade shots. Felix soon removed my doubts, because he came in smoking, throwing clear, crisp, sharp punches and landing with ease. He moved gracefully, smoothly, like a round, sliding into the chamber of a gun. Tito wasted no time in sighting in on his opponent and scoring bulls eyes almost at will. Mayorga who had been talking up a storm looked like an amateur, swinging his arms like a novice demonstrating no fundamentals, no technique and no conditioning. I was shocked to see that after the first round he was already winded. While Felix, looked sharp, even more confident and relaxed. The crowd which may have been as much as 50 percent Puerto Rican cheered Tito and nearly lifted the roof with their applause.

I did not actually count the number of punches that Tito landed, but it seemed like he hit the trash talking Mayorga about a hundred times each round. I’ve never been a fan of Ricardo Mayorga, who according to Ring Magazine smoked a cigarette during the Olympics while wearing his headgear. Along with many other fighters, it was my dream to fight in the Olympics, to have someone disrespect it so, did little to enlist me as his supporter. I’ve always held such self-destructive people in contempt, not because they offend me, but because they bring shame on the sport I love.

Felix came into the fight with 41 wins, one loss and 34 KOs, a great record, while Mayorga boasted 27 wins, 4 losses and 23 KOs; both impressive records. However Mayorga’s style, lack of boxing skill, brawler mentality, and thuggish manner cast a shadow over his accomplishments. Mayorga who comes form Nicaragua’s mean streets is often compared to Mike Tyson, whose ability to get into trouble is only out done by his terrible business sense. No one can dispute Mayorga’s suicidal abandon or his great chin. He can take a shot, however he lacks defense, has terrible footwork, and never puts his weight behind his punches. He swings his arms like a monkey, never pivots when he hooks, and is therefore out of punching position. He has the characteristics of a street dog and possesses an unbelievable ability to offend 90 % of everyone he meets. He is rude, blatantly disrespectful and is completely detached from any understanding of the impact of his words or behavior. I can’t think of any reason to watch him, except the hope of watching him take a beating.

I gotta wonder how in the world did someone reach these heights without learning how to box. Mayorga like Jones, Hasim and other natural athletes with great balance and hand speed, eventually reach their level of incompetence. Jones, who mouth was usually backed up with his fists, survived a very long time, before someone got his number. Prince Hasim, the English clown, lasted only until he met a boxer. Ricardo swung his arms like a monkey swinging form tree to tree while absorbing punishment. Felix, demonstrated quality as he systemically destroyed Mayorga. To add insult to injury, Mayorga is now under indictment for an alleged raped he committed in Nicaragua. In his desperation Ricardo actually hopped into the air as he attempted to land a punch, making him appear even less a warrior and more the fool. The poor fool never even learned how to punch effectively.

Tito, unleashed four and six punch combinations that left Mayorga stunned and completely discredited in front of millions. He endured, and suffered a terrible, humiliating beating at the hands of a man who had been absent from boxing for over two years. Mayorga’s cockiness continued, but it was more a matter of habitual behavior, because anyone watching including himself, had to have known he was getting a major butt whipping. They say old habits are hard to break, watching him take a beating, it way past time to teach that dog new tricks.

Mayorga continue to deteriorate and proved to the world that arrogance, and disrespect for the sport that made him rich, had finally caught up with him. Tito landed six and seven punch combinations, leaving Ricardo completely defeated. The clown role he has been playing along with his Tyson mentality brought him exactly what he deserved.

By round five Mayorga proved he knew even less about boxing than he knows about life. His tendency to want to solve everything by hitting it failed, as he swung his arms around, missing and being completely overwhelmed. It is difficult to be kind, or make a positive observation about someone who enters the ring without proper preparation and total disregard for the sport. As Ricardo withered, Tito, assumed a hunter mentality and calmly took his shots, gradually destroying what little self-respect Mayorga might have had left.

By the end of the seven round Mayorga appeared to be a dying man, stumbling towards his corner, spitting out his mouthpiece and demonstrating none of the qualities which this sport demands. Mayorga’s corner, knowing he was loosing, began shouting at him all at once, while he appeared out of it completely. Ricardo was is deep water, with no knowledge of what to do or how to do it. It was judgment day. He had been measured and found unfit, unqualified and unworthy of the privilege of calling himself a fighter.

Tito began throwing body shots and never ending left hooks, while Mayorga, never lifted his right hand, parried, blocked or slipped a punch. The street thug, who had insulted Tito’s family and boxing via his poor behavior was handed a sound beating. The low blow that landed on his hip gave him a small reprieve and allowed him to regain some o this composure, but not enough to make any difference. I’ve never cared for boxers who brawl and swing from the outside.  Tito took his time, shooting straight shots down the middle, landing almost 100% of everything he threw.

I’ve told my fighters many times, “you will fight the way you train”. I gotta wonder who is coach is, and why he was allowed to continue without learning fundamentals. I gotta blame the coach for cosigning Ricardo’s terrible conditioning as well as his sorry excuse for what he calls training. I’ve had similar disagreements with other coaches such Emmanuel Stewart, a man I once respected. I believe it comes down to the money. Fighters don’t want to hear what they need to hear, they just want someone to take what tools they have and make them work. Well, it doesn’t work like that way. A trainer is like a doctor in many respects. He must give the fighter what he needs, not what he wants. A coach can not compromise his standards, once one does, he is no better than a prostitute, worse than that, once you make money you ultimate reward, you surrender the passion, the love and the honesty required to be a real trainer. No one is saying money is not important, but at the same time its not all important, if it were, rich men would not want to be President. Look at Cheney and Bush. They already had money, they also needed the media and two dozens ass kissers to make them feel special.

The eighth round proved to be the ultimate humiliation for the once cocky Mayorga, who was knocked down three times after absorbing a terrible beating, the likes I have not witnessed in a very long time. Tito, tattooed him via a twenty-five punch barrage, throwing shots at Ricardo, like a machine gunner. No mercy, and no reprieve were offered. Tito Trinidad confirmed beyond any doubt that he was back. While Mayorga, the punk, trash talking idiot, who brought shame to boxing received the ass kicking he so richly deserved. I tip my hat to Felix Trinidad and offer a salute.

I feel that boxing has been pardoned, at least temporally. It’s as if good has triumphed over evil, even if it’s only for a little while. All seems to be in its place, the storm and dark clouds that have always haunted boxing have momentarily been lifted. There are few words I could say to Felix, aside from a heart felt congratulations. I feel as if I owe him a personal debt for having removed a torn from my side, by knocking the crap out of a street punk, who had only smeared dung on the sport I love.

Once again, I gotta say “Thank God for Boxing”