On This Day Eight Years Ago - Trinidad Vs. De La

By James Slater: On this day, September 18, 1999, one of boxing’s most recent controversial super fights took place at The Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. Indeed, the result of this particular fight, along with its scoring, is still very much debated and talked about even now, almost a full decade later.

Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya met in a huge welterweight showdown, and what followed surprised many.

The Trinidad-De La Hoya fight was an absolutely huge promotion. It would go on to be ranked near the very top of the list of most successfully sold boxing matches on pay per view. The fight generated millions. It was the biggest fight at welterweight since the Leonard-Hearns classic from back in 1981 and immediately it drew comparisons. As with Ray and Tommy, both men held a version of the title, both were perceived as the best in the world at the weight, and both men were in their absolute primes. Everyone wanted to see this match up and, on September18, 1999, both boxers entered the ring intent on a most glorious victory.

After a very cautious start by both men, Oscar slipped into his game plan of boxing smartly. Beforehand many had predicted a short and violent slugfest, but the fight shaped up as just the opposite. A fascinating and incredibly skilful game of chess ensued with Oscar giving Trinidad a thorough boxing lesson throughout the lion’s share of the first nine rounds. “Tito” appeared completely baffled at times and couldn’t get any of his big punches home. He was being frustrated and had no idea how to nullify De La Hoya’s perfect tactics. But then, in what was to become the talking point not only of the fight, but also of his career up until that point, De La Hoya decided to coast in the last three rounds.

He gave these rounds away - making the mistake of believing he was way ahead on points and was therefore simply preserving an insurmountable lead. Why mix it with a huge puncher so late in the fight when fatigued? However sound this approach may have seemed to him and his corner, the judges must have been watching something else because they scored the fight a Trinidad win. Felix was awarded a majority verdict - two cards had him winning, the third had it all even. I find it amazing that not even one judge gave Oscar the nod.

“Tito’s” countrymen, who were in attendance in vast numbers, went wild! He is idolized to this day in his homeland of Puerto Rico and at the time his defeat was an utterly unthinkable prospect. Many people do tire from controversies in the sport and this fight certainly, and quickly, became one. It would have been nice for once to have had a verdict that everyone was happy with, especially in a mega fight such as this. But then again, as Angelo Dundee once said, “Controversy is dynamite, it makes people want to see some more.” And we fans never stop watching do we? This was now the third, and by far the most debateable decision in De La Hoya’s career (the Pernell Whitaker and Ike Quartey fights being the other two).

Had he closed the show as he had usually done then victory would have been his. Some saw him, as he coasted in the late rounds, as a scared fighter unwilling to stand and trade as he should have. Maybe they have a point, but in no way did Trinidad win the fight. Yes, Oscar gave these rounds away, but since when do these rounds earn you more points than the early or middle ones? There were no knockdowns in the fight so all the rounds were presumably scored 10-9 or 10-10, and as Oscar clearly won at least seven of the first nine, ( I defy anyone to make a case for giving Trinidad any more than two of the first nine) then how could Trinidad have possibly been entitled to a winning points verdict? He couldn’t have, and De La Hoya was robbed. It’s that simple. I would argue a De La Hoya victory with anyone.

In the record books though, it will forever read - Trinidad W 12 De La Hoya. And this “loss,” not to mention the mauling he received from most in the press afterwards, hurt him. His first ever pro defeat. He was man enough to accept losing, but not when it was forced on him in such a shoddy manner. He did however, have some people on his side. No less visible and important a figure than Mike Tyson said afterwards, “The decision stunk!”

Oscar and Felix certainly left one of the most talked about and controversial chapters in welterweight history in their wake. The question before the fight was, “Who do you think will win?”, the question after the fight was, “Who do you think DID win?” With regard to this last question; eight years later not much has changed.