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Friday, September 17, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sheltered Trinidad set to go
Felix Trinidad's camp says its fighter must stay focused on winning before he deals with the public.
By Kevin Iole
Review-Journal
The elevator to Felix Trinidad's suite at the Las Vegas Hilton is located in the center of the hotel. Every afternoon since arriving in Las Vegas on Sept. 4, Trinidad would come down and walk toward the hotel's convention area to train.
As he did, a small number of fans would stop him each day, asking him to pose for a photograph and sign an autograph. Many wished him luck, and he often would pound his chest with his fist, to show that their support has reached his heart.
At times, he looked like a political candidate. He was loose and free with the smiles, and came across as a personable young man enjoying his vacation.
It is not, however, the side of Trinidad that has been portrayed to the world at large. At the order of his father, Don Felix, his public comments have been scarce, as is anyone who has seen him work out.
But, said Jose "Pepe" Ramos, a Trinidad camp member who has worked with the International Boxing Federation champion for seven years, there is a reason he has remained sheltered.
Trinidad, who will fight Oscar De La Hoya on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for two-thirds of the world welterweight title, didn't want anything to jeopardize the bout coming off.
And so, Don Felix, also Trinidad's trainer, decided to restrict access to his son.
"Oscar has a history of pulling out of fights, and we didn't want anything to happen to stop this fight," said Ramos, who has served as Trinidad's interpreter and business and financial adviser. "He did it for the (Ike) Quartey fight. He did it for the (Patrick Charpentier) fight and he did it for several other big fights.
"We were worried that if Oscar saw how good Tito was, looking big and strong and ready for this fight, that he would do it again. Tito waited so long to get this fight, and we just didn't want to see it get canceled."
Ramos said portrayals of Trinidad by many American newspapers have been inaccurate. He has been described as arrogant, stand-offish and unapproachable, none of which fits the man who has been Ramos' friend.
He said Trinidad is a down-to-earth, friendly person who often takes pity on those he meets who are down on their luck.
"Tito is a millionaire now, but he knows what it is like to be in a tough situation," Ramos said. "And all the time, he is doing (charitable) things for people at home. He's famous, but he hasn't forgotten where he came from. He gives money away all the time. If someone needs something, Tito wants to help them. There is a drug problem in Puerto Rico, just like there is everywhere, and Tito really works hard to try to let the people know that you can make it without drugs, that drugs are very bad.
"Some of these things that we've seen about Tito in the papers, we wonder where this is coming from. I will translate some of the things for him (Trinidad is learning to speak English) and we will laugh together about them. He is a very good person, and the people here should know about that."
He also is a very good fighter, arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. And while his father knows that by restricting access to his son he hasn't done anything to promote Trinidad's marketability, he also knows the most important thing is winning the fight.
In a sense, Don Felix said his son would use De La Hoya's massive appeal to his advantage.
"Oscar De La Hoya has been marketed very well, this is true," Trinidad Sr. said. "Everybody knows about him and knows his face. But when Tito beats him, then those people will have to say, `Tito Trinidad is the best there is.' Then, everybody will come to us and we will talk to them. Anything you want to know, we will tell you then. But we have to win the fight."
Ramos said he met Trinidad when he decided he wanted to be a fighter -- "I was kidding myself that I was a boxer, but I found out soon enough about boxing. My first fight was also my last one," he said, chuckling -- and the two have been friends since.
Ramos has as good a read on Trinidad as anyone. He said the 35-0 champion is relaxed and ready to make his mark on boxing history.
"Tito knows that there is a lot of attention on this fight, but he likes that because it gives him the chance to prove to everyone his talent," Ramos said. "He's not nervous because of it. He's excited. For a long time, Tito wasn't getting put on the front (of promoter Don King's cards). And that hurt him. But now, this is his time, and Tito is very excited and very ready for the fight."
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Printable version of this story
Mike Tyson, right, feels the muscles Felix Trinidad hopes to use to defeat Oscar De La Hoya. Tyson and Trinidad met Saturday at the Floyd Mayweather-Carlos Gerena fight at Mandalay Bay.
Photo by Chris Farina/special to the Review-Journal
De La Hoya - Trinidad Fight
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