Trinidad’s Father Fuels Son’s Retirement Talk

The word from San Juan, Puerto Rico, late Sunday: Felix Trinidad wants to retire.

Haven’t we heard this before? Not quite. This time it was Felix Trinidad Sr., father-mentor-manager-chief negotiator- trainer of the world-class fighter, saying he wanted to walk away from boxing after watching his son get thoroughly beaten by Winky Wright on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

It was only then that Felix Trinidad Jr., in the wake of his second comeback fight after an earlier retirement, said he didn’t want to go on without the guiding light in his career.

Only a day earlier, despite a humiliating defeat, the Puerto Rican fighter insisted his resolve had not been dented by the constant hammering of Wright’s trademark jab.

“I am not thinking about retirement,” said the 32-year-old Trinidad immediately afterward. “I will accept any challenge in the future against Winky or any other champion. I will have a rematch, but I have to speak with my father ... my wife and family about my future in boxing.”

That conversation apparently took a turn Trinidad had not anticipated.

When Trinidad was gaining a reputation as perhaps the most devastating puncher in the sport, the accolades extended to his corner where his father, known as Don Felix, was also receiving praise for his work as a trainer.

But after Saturday night’s embarrassment -- Trinidad seemed ill-prepared for Wright’s southpaw style and never adjusted -- the blame also extended to the corner. Why, critics asked, didn’t Don Felix have a Plan B for his flailing son?

Rather than disagree, the senior Trinidad conceded that he had not been “at 100%” in giving his son what he needed to make Saturday night’s fight competitive.

In losing to Bernard Hopkins on a 12th-round technical knockout in 2001, his first loss after 41 victories, Trinidad seemed to have lost his spirit as well. He fought once more, beating Hacine Cherifi, a journeyman who had lost 11 fights. Then Trinidad disappeared from the ring for 29 months, ballooning to 200 pounds, 56 pounds over his fighting weight, while claiming to be happy without boxing.

Not happy enough, apparently. He returned to beat Ricardo Mayorga in October before taking on Wright.

It would be difficult to sell a Wright rematch but a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, whom Trinidad beat on a controversial majority decision in 1999, would still be a potentially lucrative fight if they could agree on a suitable weight.

And if, of course, Trinidad still wants to fight.

His promoter, Don King, is backing off, letting the emotions from Saturday subside.

Then the question could be answered: If Don Felix indeed retired, would his son ultimately miss boxing more than he missed his father?