THE PEOPLE SPEAK ON TRINIDAD - MAYORGA: AN EXCLUSIVE BRC POLL

By Elisa Harrison


 

Two of the sport's leading men have met the mat in the span of one week... Oscar de la Hoya met a Bernard Hopkins liver shot he couldn't recover from and Roy Jones Jr. was thoroughly wrecked by IBF Light Heavyweight champion Glen Johnson.  Should these developments be source of concern for Tito Trinidad and/or Ricardo Mayorga?

Saturday, October 2nd is fast approaching, and while Madison Square Garden will definitely turn out for the return of Puerto Rican icon Felix 'Tito' Trinidad, Ricardo Mayorga is hell bent on retiring the pride of Cupey Alto, only for good this time.

We polled Bragging Rights Corner's Inner Circle of writers as well as many of our loyal readers and friends in the boxing world, and judging from their response... well, why don't I let you read for yourselves...

**Editor's Note: We will continue to update this poll as more replies reach us, so be sure to come back and check for new predictions. Thanks!
 

BRAGGING RIGHTS CORNER'S INNER CIRCLE...

  • I like Tito Trinidad in this one, I remember thinking that Ricardo Mayorga was made to order for Shane Mosley at 147 lbs. but moving up to 160 pounds Mayorga is already talking the wrong fight, saying he's going to let Tito hit him with his best left hook, then knock him out.  You don't want to go around following a puncher, bad things can happen. Now I know Tito has been on the beach for 29 months and it's not like you get up, dust yourself off and then go knock people out, however I do think he's still young at 31 and has a lot of gas in the tank and has always been able to take his power with him at any weight.  Also, factor in the level of opposition at middleweight and this is another clear advantage for Tito.  The one chance that Mayorga has is that Tito has been caught in the past many times and maybe he can catch Trinidad with one of those wide looping shots. 
    We can't have 3 great fighters get knocked out 3 weekends in a row, can we?  Is this the year of the surprise Knock Out?  Prediction: Felix Trinidad with a 5th round knock out. -   Aladdin Freeman

     

  •  Mayorga by 8th round KO, making it three straight weekends that a legend goes down.  - Mike LeTourneau
     

  • It's a tough pick. You got one guy coming off losing his title, and another guy coming off a 2 year layoff. Plus, they are both big punchers. I'm going to pick
    Mayorga by 7th round KO. I think they'll go at it wildly early on. Mayorga will burrow in on Tito, who has been out of the ring for a long time. It's been a
    bad time lately for ring legends, and Tito might get added to the list. I think Mayorga has a better chin, but he is moving up in weight. - Mayorga by 7th round KO.  -  Tom Dickey
     
  • Oscar, Roy, and Tito losing in consecutive weeks? I just can't picture it. This fight would seem to be a lock for Trinidad, what makes it more intriguing is the layoff factor. Being out of the sport for over 2 years can't help Tito, plus he is on the other side of 30, so who knows how much he will have left. Mayorga can take a punch and will stick around for a bit, so I expect some serious action and drama from this one.
    My biggest question is how well Trinidad will react to Mayorga's early firepower. I think Mayorga will come out with his guns blazing and surprise Felix in the first couple of rounds. I see Trinidad being offset and tasting canvas in the second round. With suspense in the air we will get to see once again what Tito is made of. Being the great champion he is, Trinidad will adapt and have Mayorga pretty much figured out by the 4th round. From there on Trinidad will begin to find his range and start landing on the wild Nicaraguan. Mayorga will hang tough for a while but I see Trinidad ending things via TKO in the 7th round in a barnburner of a fight. Sometimes it doesn't pay to bet against logic.- Chris Robinson
     
  • Trinidad by 9th round TKO. Its seems to be the round to get stopped
    recently.  - Darren Yates, from Down Under
     
  • Mayorga is always unpredictable.  After the long layoff with no tuneups, Trinidad is just as unpredictable here.  If Trinidad isn't done he'll win a unanimous decision, if he is Mayorga will stop him.
    Felix Trinidad by Unanimous Decision.  - Danny Serratelli
     
  • Similar to my having had Hopkins over Hoya early or late, I see Trinidad over Mayorga, but more likely via decision or late round stoppage.
    Trinidad is a proven special and past dominant champ in all areas. Condition, courage, power in both mittens ... and the post-Hopkins disaster two-years "retirement" was a smart choice. At age 31 he has grown to full and legit middleweight in size.
    Finally, the "rust" factor is unlikely since Trinidad is not a stylish, slick in style operator but more a stalker in search of  prey.
    Mayorga on the other hand is more a natural welterweight in size and more an entertainer than a finished and polished product. Likable personality that entertains his fans during pre-fite media settings ... but unfortunately, more a fistic clown with good chin than a valid threat against a serious type such as Trinidad.  - George Elsasser
     
  • I pick Trinidad in a reversal of what Mayorga said. I think he is going to eat his words and get knocked out in the 8th round just like he predicted for Trinidad only it will be Mayorga instead... - Jeff Mayweather
     
  • Tito of old may have taken care of Mayorga handily, but having been inactive for so long I fear Tito may have become stale. I hope not... Mayorga and his aggressive awkwardness , may have enough to steal victory. It's a toss up for me, but I want to go with my heart. Tito TKO 8 in a very dirty fight. - Stephen Jones
     

  •  I see Mayorga having his moments in the fight, and maybe even scoring a
    flash knock down on Trinidad. But Mayorga is too small to rough up Trinidad
    like he did to Forrest. Trinidad will just pound Mayorga and drop him a few
    times before Mayorga stays down for good. Trinidad in 9     - Jose Hernandez
     

  •  After a slow and cautious start,  Tito regains his confidence and his power and stops Mayorga in round 7 - Kris Lake
     

  • Trinidad stop Mayorga late, 10th round KO for Felix 'Tito' Trinidad - Hardcharger
     

  • Well, this is a tough one.  I can certainly see Trinidad perforating Mayorga's less than air-tight defense, and I can also see him dropping Mayorga to the canvas (Ricardo has been down before, after all).  But I also know that doubts continue to swirl around Tito because of his chin, and Mayorga - an extremely effective volume puncher when he is on - will be eager to take advantage of his opponent's perceived Achilles heel.  At the end of the day, this confrontation will be a battle determined most of all by which of these two men will least be the victim of his own limitations.
    And I'm not ready to bet the farm against Ricardo Mayorga. - Blaine Hislop
     

  • Felix Trinidad may be rusty but he'll knock it off when his punches land to Mayorga's head. Don King is no fool, Felix Trinidad is a money maker for him something Don King has lacked lately. He wouldn't put Trinidad in too much risk his first fight back. Trinidad may look slow from the start, even end up on the canvas, but look for him to score a late knockout - Kenny Perrault
     

  • One thing can be said about this match-up... both men will come to fight. Neither Tito nor Mayorga know how to run or back up from an opponent, and that may spell disaster for one of them.
    Mayorga proved himself to be a terror at 147 lbs., but he was unimpressive in his only outing at 154 lbs. against a mediocre opponent; he has yet to take a leather test at 160 lbs, (and what a tester he has chosen).
    Trinidad, on the other hand, already beat a champion at 160 lbs., (the classic demolition of William Joppy). Albeit in a losing effort, he also hung in with a masterful Bernard Hopkins for more rounds than I care to remember.
    Trinidad's lay off may be a factor, but one I believe he will overcome on his way to a 7th round stoppage of a game "El Matador" Mayorga. - Elisa Harrison

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OUR BOXING FRIENDS SPEAK OUT...

  • I believe Tito can outbox him, but 2-1/2 years off is a long time. Ricardo has been more active and he did KO a man that Tito and everyone else ducked repeatedly for years. I was at the first fight when Vernon was hit. It sounded like he was hit by a cinder block. So it's a you pick'em, because of Ricardo's awkward style and sick punching poser and Tito's long lay off. Corey Spinks who is my boy, told me that Ricardo can't box, but he can hit like a S.O.B. Anything can happen... Remember, even in Tito's prime he went down a lot, and Ricardo is really a dangerous puncher. You pick'em - Nate Campbell
     

  • Felix Trindad is back: He beats Mayorga by unanimous decision. - Fabian Weber, www.boxing.de
     

  • Trinidad by KO in the eighth round. It will be close through 7, but  Trinidad will knock him out in the 8th. - Terry Norris
     

  • Trinidad by KO. Trinidad is the better boxer, and Mayorga focuses too much on throwing bombs. - Lou Duva
     

  • Felix Trinidad KO 7 - Armando Alvarez, Maxboxing.com, Telemundo 51
     

  • I think Mayorga is going to start out strong, possibly even dropping Trinidad sometime in the early rounds however, Trinidad's experience, size and strength will begin to show in the middle rounds eventually stopping Mayorga in about the 10th round. - Javiel Centeno, Ringside Photographer,  www.Ringsidepics.com
     

  • This match up between returning Tito Trinidad against the once ferocious yet seemingly fading Ricardo Mayorga is interesting. It's hard to honestly say WHO would win this one since Trinidad, in his best days (which was a few years ago) was possibly one of the best finishers in Boxing. If he got you
    in trouble, chances are, it was over.
    Mayorga, while not a "polished boxer" has more testosterone than maybe any fighter I've seen since Duran. But Cory Spinks proved that great boxing skills can neutralize Mayorga's onslaughts and make him look like an amateur. For all Trinidad's assets, he lacks the kind of footwork, mobility and defensive skills to follow the blueprint left by Spinks.
    Trinidad was a great "fighter" but never a great "boxer" he did get hit a lot, often getting floored early in fights. But then only to get up and win by knockout.
    Mayorga is a pure brawler with a highly regarded chin. Trinidad is a big puncher with a questionable chin. Tito has the edge in big fight experience. Mayorga has the unpredictable X factor in his favor.
    If Trinidad comes back in the kind of shape he was prior to the Hopkins fight, I like Trinidad to win by knockout in the mid to late rounds.
    If Mayorga is in top shape and has learned from his last two outings, he may be so forceful in cutting off the ring and pressing Trinidad that chances are he catches him and knocks him out early. So, I'm going to cheat here and take two picks. Mayorga by early KO or Trinidad by late KO.
    The best thing about this match up is that I truly don't know which fighter will win. I doubt it gets decided by the Judges. - Sharkie, Frank Gonzalez, Jr.
     

  • Trinidad via 10th round KO  - Jorge M. Alonso, referee
     

  • Trinidad  wins - KO in the later rounds - Ernesto Dallas, Manager, Edgar Santana,  www.santanaboxing.com
     

  • This is a hard one to call, but I give the edge to Tito.  If his timing is on he will catch the wild Mayorga with a solid shot.  It is tough to fight a wild aggressive fighter like Mayorga, but I think Trinidad can do it.  Someone is going down. This fight will not go the distance, and God Bless them both because they both punch hard. - Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, www.theghostguerrero.com
     

  • I've already put my $$ on Mayorga.  Very few fighters can come out of
    retirement and defeat a top caliber fighter like Mayorga.  On top of the
    fact that he's been BUSY while Trinidad has been sipping Margaritas on the
    beach.  Cigarrettes or not,  Mayorga by late KO,  maybe the 8th round.  -  Ricky Ray Taylor, Boxing Trainer/NYC, BoxerDRILLZ.com
     
  • Similar match-up to Hopkins-De La Hoya.....Tito is too big, too strong for wide punching Mayorga.....Tito by TKO8. - Bob Trieger, Publicist
     
    •
  • I pick Trinidad to win  by knockout in the eighth  round. Trinidad is a technically sound fighter.  -  Jacob E. Hall, Indiana Boxing Commissioner.
     
  • Mayorga is too wild, too crazy and too strong for Trinidad. I think that Mayorga will keep the 9th round curse going with a 9th round knockout of Trinidad.  -  
    Noah Lazes, Promoter
     

  • I like Tito... After a scary first 3 rounds  I see Tito taking over and beating Mayorga by later rounds KO, meaning 10 rounds...
    As you all know I called it on the nose with Hopkins in 9, wink... -  Butch Sanchez, a.k.a. Big Dog, ( trainer of  world champions '6 Heads' Lewis,  Hector Acero Sanchez, Bebis Mendoza).
     

  • I have to go with Mayorga by KO. - Jackie Kallen
     
  • In a wild fight Tito's compact punching, accuracy and quick hands will impose themselves on Mayorga's wild-swinging style. The nicaraguan is a true tough guy and won't go down without putting up a fight, but if Tito can comeback from 2 years away from the ring anything close to his old self a victory by him is inevitable. I say Tito inside of 5 by stoppage with Mayorga still on his feet, very much like in the Yori Boy Campas fight. -  Yosvani Oliva, (Editor/www.boxeomundial.net)
     
  • I love and respect Tito as a fighter and great champion, however he is fighting a very dangerous man in his first fight back from retirement. Mayorga has devastating power and a rock solid chin. Spinks was able to box effectively and stay away from that power, but Tito will engage more than Cory did and that may be his undoing. Rewind the Trinidad clock a few years and my prediction would be Tito by decision. I'm not sure anyone can hurt Mayorga and not sure Trinidad can out box him for 12 rounds and stay clear of the power. Mayorga will track Tito down and hurt him in the late rounds for an upset KO. - Craig Goossen/Goossen Tutor Promotions

  • Tito gets crushed, by a wild overhand right that he does not see coming.  The fight does not go past the 7th round.  I think Mayorga is a bad opponent to make his first comeback fight against.  Mayorga is just to powerful for Tito. - Mario Serrano, Publicist 
     

  • Give Trinidad credit -- he didn't come back against a Mr. Softee club member. But this time, he'll find out that coming to the fray after two years to face someone of the caliber of Ricardo Mayorga was a little too much even for him to handle. De La Hoya, Jones and Trinidad stopped in a span of three weeks? This just ain't right. And Trinidad doesn't even make it to the ninth round. Mayorga KO 7. - Chris Thorne
     
  • Trinidad by knockout in 8 rounds. - Oscar Borrás, 20 de Mayo

     

9-28-2004

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