 Trinidad had been out of action since May 2002 |
Puerto Rican middleweight Felix Trinidad showed all his class to defeat Ricardo Mayorga in his comeback fight at Madison Square Garden. The 31-year-old, who retired after beating Hassine Cherifi in 2002, had a slow start and suffered an official knockdown in the third round.
However, he clawed his way back into the fight and upped the tempo as his opponent started to tire.
And Mayorga was floored three times in the eighth before the bout was stopped.
"I've been in tough wars before, but I dominated this fight," said Trinidad.
 |  My eye swelled up and I couldn't see some shots |
"He can take a good punch and he took a lot, which was bad for him.
"I knew I could keep the pace up thanks to my discipline. I did. That was our game plan, to be cool and calm, and it worked perfectly."
Trinidad, who has claimed world titles in three different weights, did not have a good start and he seemed to slip as Mayorga hit him with a right although referee Steve Smoger ruled it a knockdown.
Trinidad bounced back and after Mayorga received a cut in the fifth round, the contest was only going one way.
"I felt good about my performance, but my eye swelled up and I couldn't see some shots," said Mayorga.
On the undercard, undefeated WBA light middleweight champion Travis Simms retained his title with a unanimous decision over former WBO titlist Bronco McKart. And welterweight contender Zab Judah destroyed Wayne Martell in just over two minutes, dropping him five times before the bout was stopped.
MMIX
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