Félix “Tito” Trinidad is widely regarded as one of Puerto Rico’s greatest boxers, dominating the sport in the 1990s and early 2000s. He made his professional debut in 1990 at just 17 years old and quickly established himself as a formidable power puncher. Trinidad won his first world title in 1993, defeating Maurice Blocker for the IBF welterweight championship, a belt he would successfully defend 15 times over the next six years. His aggressive style and devastating left hook made him a fan favorite, and he secured victories over elite opponents such as Pernell Whitaker and Oscar De La Hoya. The win over De La Hoya in 1999, though controversial, cemented Trinidad’s status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Trinidad later moved up in weight, capturing titles in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions. In 2000, he became the undisputed light middleweight champion by defeating Fernando Vargas in a thrilling bout. He then entered the middleweight ranks, where he won the WBA title with a dominant knockout of William Joppy. However, his undefeated streak ended in 2001 when he suffered a decisive loss to Bernard Hopkins in a unification fight. Although he made multiple comebacks, including notable fights against Ricardo Mayorga and Roy Jones Jr., Trinidad never fully regained his previous dominance. He retired in 2008 with a record of 42 wins (35 by knockout) and only three losses, leaving behind a legacy as one of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated boxing champions.