Barrera faces Salud with eye on Hamed
Win by 122-pound champ tonight would set up March 3 fight

By ROYCE FEOUR
Las Vegas REVIEW-JOURNAL

The only thing standing between Marco Antonio Barrera and Prince Naseem
Hamed is Jesus Salud.

A victory by Barrera, the World Boxing Organization junior featherweight
champion, against the 17-year veteran Salud in the co-feature of tonight's
card at The Venetian would set up a March 3 meeting between Barrera and
Hamed, who voluntarily surrendered his WBO featherweight title last month.

"Barrera has basically signed a contract to fight Hamed," HBO executive Kery
Davis said. "The purses have been agreed upon. The television deal is done."

The Barrera-Hamed fight would be distributed on pay per view by TVKO.
Industry sources said the bout would probably be held in Las Vegas, although
no specific site has been selected.

Despite his impending showdown with Hamed, Barrera said he won't be caught
looking ahead tonight.

"We are concentrating on this fight," the 26-year-old said. "We are not
thinking beyond that.

"(Salud) is a very tough fighter. He comes straight forward. He has a lot of
strengths."

Salud, 37, held the World Boxing Association junior featherweight
championship in 1989 but was stripped of his title without making a defense.
He is 62-9 since turning pro in 1983.

"It is a dangerous fight," Davis said. "Marco is doing it anyway."

Salud lost challenges for the International Boxing Federation junior
featherweight title to Welcome Ncita by decision in 1992, to Kennedy
McKinney by decision in 1993 and to Vuyani Bungu by decision in 1996.

Salud also lost a decision to Antonio Cermeno for the WBA 122-pound title in
1995.

International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins will
face Antwun Echols in the main event of tonight's card which begins at 5:30
p.m.

Barrera, 51-3, has won two in a row since his hard-fought split-decision
loss to Erik Morales on Feb. 19 at Mandalay Bay.

Despite his loss, Barrera was given back his 122-pound belt by the WBO
because the sanctioning organization did not agree with the decision, and
because Morales, at the time the World Boxing Council super bantamweight
champion, was not fighting for the WBO belt.

Barrera was obviously disappointed by the Morales decision, but he said he
was pleased with the support from the crowd.

"The main thing was people were backing me up -- everybody was yelling
'Barrera won, Barrera won,'" he said.

December 1, 2000

By CARLOS ARIAS
The Orange County Register

LAS VEGAS - A little smile came over Felix "Tito" Trinidad's face as he sat
on the dais this past weekend in front of a vocal crowd of Fernando Vargas
supporters during a news conference that filled the Plaza de Pueblo on
Olvera Street.

It was a look of supreme confidence. It was a rare kind of arrogance that
comes when a fighter has a single-minded belief that he is the most superior
fighter in the world. Trinidad had that "look."

He said he respects Vargas' merits as a champion and he doesn't mean to
offend anybody, he just believes that he will knock out Vargas.

"I think this fight with Fernando Vargas will be easy," said Trinidad, who
faces Vargas in a pay-per-view showdown Saturday night at Mandalay Bay
Events Center in Las Vegas. "I prepare to make each fight easier than the
last. I think this fight will be easier than the one with David Reid."

Trinidad's father/trainer, Don Felix, has predicted Trinidad will stop
Vargas by the eighth round.

The highly volatile Vargas, who can take the most innocent of comments from
his opponents and turn them into an absolute attack on his character, has
had no trouble getting motivated for Trinidad, who has referred to him as a
"little boy" and a "kitten."

"He's been disrespecting me left and right," Vargas said. "When I wake up in
the morning I see his face. When I send sparring partners home, I see his
face. On (Saturday), he's going to see a lion in the ring. I'm going to show
him every ounce of sweat that I've shed. I'm ready to fight now."

It would seem that Trinidad's comments have been made in an effort to get
Vargas off his game and, maybe, cause him to lose his cool in the ring, so
he can capitalize on a careless mistake.

"He's never fought anybody like me," Trinidad said. "Anything that he
brings, I will have an answer for."

Trinidad, 27, already has Hall of Fame credentials. He is considered one of
the best, if not the best, offensive fighters in boxing. He has a 38-0
record with 31 knockouts. He has been a world champion for more than seven
years in two different weight classes and is 18-0 with 14 knockouts in world
title fights.

But Trinidad remains a mystery to the American public. He is a hero in his
native Puerto Rico, but he doesn't speak fluent English, which has hampered
his marketability in the United States. Don Felix closes his training camp
and doesn't make him readily available to the English-speaking media.

Trinidad said he has held four public workouts in Puerto Rico.

"I didn't do them here because it is what my father says," Trinidad said.
"You have to ask him. I do what my father tells me to do."

Don Felix was the same way before Trinidad's fights against Oscar De La
Hoya, David Reid and for the fight against Vargas.

"We did our workouts and conditioning in Puerto Rico already," Don Felix
said. "We came here to fight. If you want to see Tito, buy pay-per-view or
come to the arena on (Saturday)."

Trinidad said he doesn't worry about money or fame anymore.

"What motivates me is glory to my country, Puerto Rico, and myself," said
Trinidad, who added the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico has also been
a big motivation for this fight.

"It has been a strong rivalry with many great fights and this will be
another great fight. I have nothing against Mexicans, but when I get in the
ring, I go to win. I always respect my country, Puerto Rico."

Trinidad maintains that his experience will be the deciding factor.

"Vargas is a baby," Trinidad said. "He can't beat me. What has he done that
you would say he could beat me? I will knock him out, I can promise you
that.

"It might be easy. Vargas is a good fighter, but the difference between him
and De La Hoya is De La Hoya has experience. I have beaten every fighter
they have put in front of me. I know, with my strength and experience,
Vargas doesn't stand a chance."

Vargas (20-0, 18 KOs), who is 6-0 with four KOs in world title fights,
dismisses talk of his lack of experience.

"People talk about the experience factor, I laugh at that sometimes," Vargas
said. "I'm able to prove everybody wrong every time I step in the ring. They
said it before Yory Boy Campas, Raul Marquez and Ike Quartey.

"I feel when God put gloves on me, I was destined for this."

Trinidad's WBA junior-middleweight title will be on the line, as will
Vargas' IBF 154-pound title. But more important, the winner is braced to
become the biggest non-heavyweight attraction in the sport and claim status
as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

 i couldn't believe he weighed more than fernando. the guy looked like a
bean pole. i missed it, did anyone see his height?

The Sanity Cruzer <sanitycru...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:909ofp$996$1@slb7.atl.mindspring.net...

From the beginning, I picked Trinidad.  As the fight gets closer, I am not
so certain of the outcome.  What the heck.  The worst thing that can happen
is I could be wrong.  But then, I could be right.

Neither fighter is the perfect fighter.  Both are very, very good fighters,
probably future member of The Boxing Hall of Fame.  That's what makes this
fight so intriguing in my opinion.  Both seem to be capable of beating the
other.  Vargas fights with what he calls "controlled fury" and Trinidad is a
fighter who throws hurtful punches and wastes little energy, a picture of
efficiency in the ring.  Trinidad has the suspect chin.  Vargas could
inherit a suspect chin at anytime, courtesy of Trinidad's punches.  Vargas
has beaten everybody, looking very impressive in his last outing versus Ike
Quartey.  Trinidad too has beaten everybody, looking devastating against
David Reid, after a less than impressive first six rounds.  Vargas received
a controversial decision over Winky Wright, after coming on in the later
rounds.  Trinidad received a controversial decision over Oscar de la Hoya,
after coming on in the later rounds.  Vargas has never been down as a
professional fighter.  Trinidad has been down several times, but has gotten
up to win, never, in my memory, looking seriously hurt.  Neither fighter has
ever been busted up badly or been in what would be deemed to be a career
shortening fight.  Both seem to be at the top of their respective games.
Neither fighter is a face-first brawler, both picking and choosing their
shots.  So how's it going to go?  I wish I knew.

Both fighters have had problems with slick movers.  Most notably, Trinidad
with de la Hoya and Vargas with Wright.  I think we can throw those two
fights out the window.  Trinidad will not duplicate Wright's fight plan, and
I doubt Vargas will be able to outslick Trinidad the way Oscar did for the
bulk of 8 rounds.  First of all, Trinidad is not really as slow as the de la
Hoya fight made him appear, and I don't think Vargas is as fast as is Oscar.
If one is to use footwork to create problems for the other, I would expect
Vargas to be the one giving Trinidad problems in that area.  That said,
Vargas doesn't have the movement of de la Hoya or Reid, and if the
Trinidad's are anywhere near as professional as I hope they are, they've
been working on dealing with opponents' movement.  My perception is people
expect to see Trinidad shuffling forward, having to set his feet in order to
throw his punches, as Vargas gives Felix angles, thereby disrupting
Trinidad's ability to counter Vargas.  I think what we might see is Vargas
coming in behind his jab, with Trinidad giving ground, stopping at opportune
times, thereby setting his feet, and throwing combinations.  What Trinidad
must avoid is his moving straight back, as he did when he was knocked down
by the Reid with overhand rights.  Vargas has a great ability to time his
attacks such that he is able to throw a volley of punches, often forcing his
opponent to cover up, unable to return fire.  While Trinidad is a top
counter puncher, I don't know if he's faced anyone who has the ability and
willingness to get in your face, do damage and get out, the way Vargas can.

People talk about experience.  That is crap.  Trinidad is either better than
Vargas or not.  After being a top amateur, going to the Olympics,  winning a
world title and defending it several times on HBO.

When it comes to confidence, both fighters seem to have an abundance.  The
level of confidence which Trinidad possesses seems to me to be such it could
lead to his downfall.  I say this because of how he fought Oscar de la Hoya
and David Reid.  Trinidad was being out-hustled early on in both fights.  I
don't know if he's really cognizant of how his seeming to think a victory is
merely destiny could get in his way of winning.  In my opinion, Vargas is
going to be all of David Reid and more.  Trinidad might find himself in need
of a late round knockout in order to win, against a guy who has never been
down as a professional fighter.  That is not a position in which Felix will
want to find himself in, but I'm afraid that is where he'll be, if the bout
should reach a ninth round.

Both fighters have good defenses, and still both are there to be hit.
They've made their living off of hitting their opponents more and harder.
What this bout could come down to is not who has the best offense or
defense, but who has the best set of whiskers.  We've all gotten used to
seeing Trinidad's rump dusting the canvas, but we've never really seen him
badly hurt or in danger of being overwhelmed.  Should Vargas get Felix on
the mat, you can bet all you'll see are assholes and elbows as Fernando goes
to town on Trinidad.

If there is one bout which this might remind me of it's Arguello-Pryor.
Trinidad is much like a larger version of El Flaco, The Thin One.  While
Vargas is much more conservative (wow, never thought I'd use that term in
connection with Vargas) than was Aaron Pryor, the level of intensity with
which he fights is analogous to the former World Junior Welterweight
Champion.  While I get the sense Trinidad expects to win the fight with
Vargas, I also get the sense Vargas will do whatever it takes to win.
Trinidad seems like a man who expects he won't be denied, while Vargas comes
across to me as a fighter who will not allow you to deny him.  It's personal
with him.  He wants you to recognize, without a doubt, who he is.  Just as
did Arguello, Trinidad throws these picture perfect combinations, straight
and powerful.  I just don't think Trinidad's power is going to intimidate
Fernando Vargas or deter him from attacking Felix.

I was never big on David Reid.  In fact, I predicted his demise  and his
being exposed long before Trinidad or Garcia made Reid look bad in the ring.
I never expected Reid to do as well as he did against Felix Trinidad.  While
I have always been a fan of Felix Trinidad and would love to see him beat
Vargas, I don't think it will happen, at least not in the ring.  We all know
about the "King factor".  Regardless of who gets the decision, I think
Vargas will earn a victory from opening bell to the final bell.  What
happens after that is immaterial.

I am not saying Trinidad will not land on Fernando and possibly bust him up
a little, just that I don't think Trinidad can deny Vargas a win.  I hope
I'm wrong.

I have the same nagging doubts of Tito's ability to handle Vargas,
while still being a fan of Tito's.  My winning scenario -- that keeps
replaying in the VCR in my head -- is Vargas losing focus as he did
against Quartey late in the fight (round 9 IIRC).  If that happens, I
can see a turn around punch from Tito as there was against Reid.

Oh well, hopefully I'll win enough on the pool tables before the fight
to pay for my beverages in my favorite sports pub.

        -mwh
"Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who
count the votes decide everything."
JOSEF V. STALIN