By Sanjeev Shetty BBC Sport Online

In a sport full of shocks, the announcement that Felix Trinidad is to hang up his gloves at the age of 29 comes as a genuine surprise.

The Puerto Rican fighting machine has suffered just one defeat in 42 fights and was apparently consumed with the thought of avenging that defeat.

But Bernard Hopkins, the man who beat Trinidad last September, proved an elusive foe to track down.

So Trinidad has elected to retire, satisfied that his achievements in three different divisions - welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight - are more than enough.

For boxing fans, the news will be greeted with sadness - for if Trinidad was involved, it was nearly a guarantee that it would be a good fight.

His brawls with Fernando Vargas, David Reid, Yori Boy Campas and Oba Carr electrified audiences around the world.

With 15 defences of the welterweight title that he won at the age of 20 from the experienced American Maurice Blocker, Trinidad's achievements guarantee entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Add that to the fact that he never ducked an opponent, never ran from anyone in the ring and what you have is a throwback champion who would have held his own in any era.

During his 12 year career, he fought just one British opponent, Kevin Lueshing, a challenger who had the temerity to knock Trinidad to the canvas.

Unfortunately, that was Lueshing's only moment of success, as he was mercilessly despatched in three brutally efficient rounds.

Now retired, Lueshing still carries a picture of the moment he floored one of boxing's great champions and he admits that Trinidad's latest decision is a shock.

"I'm very surprised - but he must know in his mind he has achieved greatness," Lueshing told BBC Sport Online.

"I admire him making this decision. In a way, there's no more that he can do.

"It's an example for all boxers about being able to get out at the top."

After defeating the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Pernell Whitaker and Hector Camacho, Trinidad's sense of invulnerability took him to a showdown with Hopkins.

But the American, perhaps inspired by a wave of patriotism in the immediate aftermath of 11 September, befuddled Trinidad and scored a technical knockout in the 12th round.

Trinidad accepted the loss with dignity and returned to Puerto Rico to regroup and then return.

In May 2002, he stopped Frenchman Hacine Cherifi in four rounds, showing no signs of rust or deterioration as evidenced by some boxers after a stunning loss.

It seemed then that rematches with de la Hoya or Hopkins were on the cards but it now seems that Trinidad is not on their agenda.

Dynamite

So boxing is forced to say goodbye to a fighter who truly had dynamite in his fists, either with his trademark left hook or straight right hand.

Of his 41 wins, 34 came by knockout or stoppage and in every one of his bouts, he sought the early finish.

In terms of Puerto Rican boxers, the only man who could claim to be better was Wilfred Benitez, who knocked out Britain's Maurice Hope in 1981.

Benitez also won titles at three weights but was a spent force at the age of 25 and now suffers from a brain disorder, accentuated by too many ring wars.

By retiring before the age of 30, Trinidad has assured himself of a place in boxing history and probably his long term health.