Pernell Whitaker shook his head yes. It had to be pride making him say he beat Felix Trinidad, that he was defrauded again and cursed by the worst of luck. Because the only wrong was the six-time champion’s belief in what happened over 12 rounds of domination.
Trinidad, the biggest threat to Oscar De La Hoya in the welterweight division, wasn’t spectacular in this IBF title fight before 13,822 at Madison Square Garden. But he was clearly better. The unanimous decision Trinidad won was only once shred of proof. The biggest came in Whitaker’s puffy, bloated face.
“Yes, it was obvious,” said Trinidad (34-0), who emerged from what was supposed to be his stiffest test clean and unmarked. “I had control the whole fight. It was obvious on the judges’ scorecards I won the fight easily.”
How fitting that judge Samuel Conde Lopez – who hails from Trinidad’s native Puerto Rico – had it the closest: 117-110. Robert Exton, from Whitaker’s home state of Virginia, and Melvina Latham, of New York, both had it 118-109.
Whitaker – who had been knocked down only seven times in his 44-fight career – touched the canvas six different times. Only one could be scored a true knockdown – coming in the second round – but it was an exhibit of how Trinidad had him scurrying.
In the end, Whitaker could never overcome a five-inch reach disadvantage, and the youth and strength of Trinidad.
“He didn’t do anything,” Whitaker contended. “We’ll see what the public thinks. Hell, yeah, I think I won. He didn’t hurt me.”
But Whitaker was taken to the hospital immediately following the fight with what was feared to be a fractured jaw. Lou Duva, Whitaker’s manager, said it was from an elbow; Don King, Trinidad’s promoter, said it was from one of the many right hands his fighter landed.
Even Duva pointed toward Trinidad when asked the winner. “More punching,” he said. “Better punching.”
In the second round, a straight right lead by Trinidad knocked down an off-balanced Whitaker for just the eighth time in his 44-fight career. Whitaker popped to his feet immediately, trying to fight past referee Benji Estevez while he counted eight. He then went right after Trinidad in a show that he wasn’t hurt.
“It was a flash knockdown,” Whitaker said.
But in the fourth, Trinidad landed a solid right that wobbled the challenger’s legs. And in the sixth, he connected with two stinging rights and a monster left that staggered Whitaker. It happened again in the eighth, when Whitaker walked into a crushing right upper cut. He survived, but after the bell he walked to the wrong corner.
Trinidad – who landed 54 percent of his punches, an amazing stat against the ever-elusive Whitaker – finished the fight without fanfare. He seemed to content to take the victory instead of go for the knockout. He was also rusty, after having fought five rounds in the past 25 months and eight in the past three years.
Meanwhile, Whitaker didn’t go out on his shield, instead reverting back to his make-them-miss style of bobbing instead of punching.
“I’ll continue to fight until somebody beats me,” said the 35-year-old Whitaker.
Trinidad, 26, entered the ring second, waving two Puerto Rican flags to a rousing ovation. He wore a red headband bearing his name and a white satin robe, and pounded his chest to the crowd as he stood atop the ropes. Spanish music blared. It was clear: Trinidad was home.
When they introduced Whitaker, a chorus of boos spread like wildfire. He blew a kiss and winked defiantly.
“As long as they don’t throw bottles,” he had said of being the enemy from Norfolk, Va. Whitaker in a sense relished it. This was going to be perhaps the defining fight of his career – if not his last – and he had to stand alone.
Whitaker had three blemishes (two losses, one draw) on his record, but none in his mind. For so long, despite the drug suspension that canceled his fight against Ike Quartey and kept him out of the ring since October 1997, he felt slighted. But he had no leg to stand on this time.
Whitaker did, however, give Trinidad the nod when comparing him to De La Hoya, whom he lost to in a close decision two years ago.
When asked of De La Hoya, Trinidad said, “I don’t know what’s next. If Oscar comes, bring him on.”
King was more blunt. “We want De La Hoya. I hope he’s Oscar De La Hoya and not Chicken De La Hoya.” *The little-known Terronn Millett (21-1-1, 16 KOs), the USBA champion, was the star of the undercard at the Garden last night.
Fighting with a .38-caliber bullet in his back, stemming from a 1991 robbery attempt on his truck, Millett from St. Louis, battered Vince Phillips for four-plus rounds. He knocked the former IBF junior welterweight champion down twice in the fight, including once on a vicious barroom left in the fourth round. Referee Jim Santa stopped the bout at 1:58 of the fifth round after another left hook snapped back Phillips’ head.
Also on the undercard, young lightweight Vivian Harris, of Brooklyn, stopped Jerry Smith at 2:17 of the first round to remain unbeaten. Harris (11-0, 9 Kos), a rail-thin fighter who goes 5-11, 140 pounds, knocked Smith (13-34) down three times before the bout was mercifully ended.