De La Hoya-Trinidad II in Works

Round one of Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad II was fought to a draw Saturday morning.

While promoters Bob Arum and Don King emerged from the first round of negotiations optimistic that a De La Hoya-Trinidad rematch will happen--probably in May or June--Arum also announced that he wants to match De La Hoya against Javier Castillejo of Spain, the World Boxing Council 154-pound champion, in February or March. Arum’s first choice for a site, if a date is available, is Staples Center.

Trinidad is expected to fight either James Page, the World Boxing Assn. welterweight champion, or Derrell Coley, the WBC’s No. 1 contender, in February.

After Trinidad won a close decision over De La Hoya in September to add De La Hoya’s World Boxing Council welterweight title to his own International Boxing Federation belt, King, Trinidad’s promoter, announced that the purses should be reversed for the rematch. De La Hoya made about $23 million in the first fight while Trinidad received $10.5 million. Arum insists that De La Hoya, the most successful, non-heavyweight revenue-producer in boxing history, should still get a larger piece of the pie in a second fight. Saturday’s meeting, in the hotel suite of Seth Abraham, president of Time Warner Sports, was the first attempt to resolve the differences for a rematch. The total pot for the two fighters is estimated between $36 million and $40 million.

“All in all, the meeting went better than I thought it would,” said Lou DiBella, senior vice president of Time Warner Sports, the parent company of HBO, which has De La Hoya under contract. “Both promoters entered with a problem. King came in with the guy with the title. Arum came in with the guy who is more popular.”

While Arum is asking for a 60-40 split for the rematch, with his fighter getting the 60%, he concedes that he would settle for a 50-50 division. Time Warner officials have suggested that Trinidad get 51% because he is the champion, a suggestion Arum has rejected.

Felix Trinidad Sr., the champion’s father, said through an interpreter that his son would not accept an even split.