SECONDS FOR TITO?
By Rick Folstad
Inside
Boxing Writer
INSIDEBOXING.com (October 25, 2002) - That contented belch you just heard sprung
from the belly of Felix Trinidad, proud new owner of an extra 30 pounds.
Who can blame him if he’s ballooned up to 190? He deserves a few
more trips through the buffet line, another healthy helping of strawberries on
his shortcake.
Don’t let anyone fool you. The toughest part of the
fight game is passing on the cherry cobbler during two months of training.
That’s why retirement from boxing can be a beautiful thing. Food
finally becomes a
luxury instead of an unattainable obsession. For the first couple months away
from the ring, you have this annoying little skinny guy standing on your
shoulder, whispering into your ear, telling you to pass on that third beer or
that extra handful of peanuts.
“Hey, Buster,’’ he says, leaning in close to make sure
you hear him. “Don’t forget. You’ve got a fight coming up soon. Step
away from the bar. Now.’’
Then you realize the little SOB is lying. You retired from
the ring just last month and now you’re finally living the good life. So you
brush him off your shoulder, stomp on him and buy another round for the house.
Two months later, you’re buying bigger pants, you’ve lost
all visual contact with your toes, and your grocery bill has doubled. You
explain to friends you haven’t seen for awhile that, yeah, you miss the
fight game and, sure, you put on a few pounds, but “burp,’’ you’re
learning to live with it.
If, for some crazy reason Trinidad decides to return to the
ring, he’ll need a little extra time to get ready - say a year or two. Putting
on 30 pounds is easy. All you have to do is memorize these six simple words:
“Sure, I’ll have some more potatoes.’’
But losing 30 pounds? Now that’s a real scuffle.
It’s usually a fight to the finish and it’s a battle some guys never win.
That’s why James Toney no longer dreams of becoming middleweight champion of
the world again. He’s got his eyes on a bigger, fatter prize. It’s called
the cruiserweight division.
That’s why Oscar De La Hoya shouldn’t get his
hopes up just because Trinidad agreed to have dinner with him in Puerto Rico.
Asking Trinidad to dinner is like asking a pickpocket if he wants to go to the
jewelers’ convention. Sounds like Tito is finally willing to meet with Oscar -
for a free plate of lobster.
As Trinidad gets plumper, the chances of a rematch get
smaller. The longer he spends with his extra weight, the more attached he gets
to it. If he does change his mind and decides to fight again, WBA heavyweight
champ John Ruiz will probably be available. He’s on everyone’s hit list.
But don’t get too excited. Trinidad seems to be
taking his retirement and his eating as seriously as he took his fighting. And
he isn't stupid. He'll sit down to a prime rib dinner if you're buying.
Another piece of rhubarb pie, Tito?
Thought so.
Rick Folstad can be reached at ringfan108@aol.com