Weighty issues
'Golden Boy' and 'Tito' weigh-in for Saturday's title fight
Posted: Friday September 17, 1999 11:34 PM
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"Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya smiles as his fans cheer and throw kisses at Friday's weigh ins. AP |
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) -- To the shrieks and chants of duelling fans Friday, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad weighed in for their scheduled 12-round welterweight title fight Saturday.
Both men weighed the required 147 pounds but the muscular De La Hoya needed all the help he could get to make the weight and so, to the delight of his female fans, had to take off his undershorts to be weighed.
The World Boxing Council champion was, however, shielded by a blanket held by his handlers.
Trinidad, the International Boxing Federation champion from Puerto Rico, entered the Mandalay Bay arena first and was greeted with fans waving the Puerto Rican flag, ringing cow bells and cheering, "Tito, Tito, Tito" and "Rico, Rico, Rico."
The crowd of about 1,500 on Trinidad's side of the arena went crazy when he reached the stage, took off his shirt, stripped down to bikini undershorts with the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, pounded his heart in a sign of sympatico with his fans and raised both arms in the air.
Former middleweight champion Marvin Hagler also drew cheers when he raised Trinidad's hand before he stepped on to the scale.
Trinidad's promoter, Don King, tried to make an issue of De La Hoya's weight by dramatically scrutinizing the scale. But officials immediately stepped forward and indicated that he had made weight.
Then it was the turn of De La Hoya, the Mexican-American out of East Los Angeles, to churn up his fans, who out-numbered and out-cheered the other side.
The "Golden Boy" took the stage to the shrieks of his many female fans, who threw kisses to him, and he motioned with his hands to encourage his fans to cheer even more loudly.
The fight between the undefeated 26-year-olds is essentially a "pick 'em" betting proposition. The winner will claim two-thirds of the welterweight titles.
De La Hoya's promoter, Bob Arum, said that his fighter, originally guaranteed $15 million, now is certain with all the side deals for this fight to earn more than $21 million and likely more.
Trinidad (35-0) and his father, who is also his trainer, will receive $10.5 million. De La Hoya is 31-0.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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