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November 2000 Each month we bring you a selection of articles from the current and past issues of BOXING MONTHLY. To buy the magazine, see our subscription or back issues pages, or use our world distribution map to find a news-stand copy. Why not use our Interactive Forum to express your own boxing comments and opinions!

	VIEW FROM NEW YORK with Steve Farhood The knowledgeable would pick Trinidad-Vargas as a better investment than the heavyweight fights that precede it, but size tends to matter

INEVITABLY the Tyson freakshow attracts more attration than even the very best boxing matches - Get Big Pic After forking over forty-plus dollars each for Tyson-Golota in October and Lewis-Tua in November, will America's fight fans feel obliged to order Trinidad-Vargas on pay-per-view on 2 December? I'll bet my bottom dollar they will. The battle of undefeated junior middle champs and pound-for-pound entrants is a purist's delight. Could a better match-up be made? Other than Tyson-Dr. Joyce Brothers, I think not. As to whether the appeal of Trinidad-Vargas transcends the hard-core fan, well, it doesn't. But that's okay, we'll keep it our little secret. The New York press conference announcing the fight, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, was appropriately underplayed. Shock of shocks: Don King hogged the microphone, quoting King Henry and Shakespeare and referring to everyone from Victor Hugo to Davy Crockett to Ray Charles. Otherwise, the fight was the thing. No fireworks, smoke show, or video presentation. No insults, stare-downs, or manufactured animosity. "I met Trinidad when I was a kid," said Vargas, "and I still consider him a friend. But we're in the hurt business . . ." And the best thing of all: The word "unification" wasn't mentioned once. The fighters held their respective belts close to their sides, but it was understood that the corresponding alphabet letters were utterly insignificant. While the big-fight record of Mexicans vs. Puerto Ricans is outstanding (Sanchez over Gomez, Cuevas over Espadas, Chavez over Rosario), Trinidad has opened as a 9-5 favourite. But as fight-time approaches, look for Vargas to garner additional backing. In fact, of the six boxing types I polled at the press conference, three tilted for Trinidad and three voted for Vargas. I like Trinidad, but even if offered pick-'em, I wouldn't bet the Glynner's money on it. (Editor's note: Damn right. I now spend my huge wad on having the rest of my huge wad monogrammed in gold to protect it from being spent by anyone other than me.) Here's an empanada for thought: Assuming there is a conclusive outcome, does the winner deserve the mythical title of the best fighter, pound-for-pound, in boxing? Forced to play out his prime as a one-man band, Roy Jones has been losing support. Will a fresh cast of opponents at super middleweight rejuvenate his career? Not as long as Joe Calzaghe is the best the 168-pound class can provide. Moreover, Shane Mosley convincingly defeated Oscar De La Hoya, which Trinidad failed to do, but resume for resume, Sugar Shane can't match the Trinidad-Vargas winner. What really sells Trinidad-Vargas is that regardless of whom you fancy, it's almost impossible to envision anything less than a terrific fight. If Trinidad outboxes his younger foe-well, Vargas will be in his face all night long. If Vargas wears down Tito - well, he'll sponge plenty of punishment in doing so. Trinidad-Vargas won't be fight of the year; Morales-Barrera already has that award locked up. But don't be surprised if it's the fight of any other year. It better be; I've already promised about 30 people that if the fight turns out to be a stinker, the Glynner will spring for PPV refunds. (Editor's note: Certainly, the first thing I do after Sharon Stone makes me breakfast.) The Finisher: Minutes after attending a press conference for the Mexican-American who fights, I purchased the newly released CD of the Mexican-American who sings. The collection of ballads sung in English and mostly Spanish is titled "Oscar De La Hoya". You think a handful of record executives sat around a conference table and spent three days coming up with that one? I'm only a lowly boxing writer, so I'm as qualified to criticise music as I am to perform hip replacement surgery. But that's not going to stop me. I like Oscar's voice - not as penetrating as his hook, but far more pleasing to the senses. The guy can sing. Really! (It must be genetic: De La Hoya's late mother Cecelia was an accomplished songstress.) I'll go as far as to pay "The Golden Boy" the ultimate compliment: If I were entertaining a delicious young female in my living room, and Oscar's version of the Bee Gee's classic "Run To Me" were contributing to the mood, my chances of going the distance would be greatly enhanced. Then again, I could arrange for Oscar, Julio Iglesias, Barry White, and Johnny Mathis to perform live in my pad, and without hypnosis, a delicious young female would be lunging for the front door. But you get the point. A warning: If you prefer the poetry of rap ("Let's-shoot-the-cops-in-the-face-and laugh-while-they-bleed-to-death") or what people my age still call rock-n-roll, Oscar's Latin beat ain't for you. That aside, something tells me an awful lot of 16-year-old girls are going to wear this CD out. As for the accompanying videos, I think I'll pass. I'm holding out for Shane Mosley's cover of "Sugar Sugar"

Also available to read from issue: Magazine Contents: Full details of the November 2000 issue - the complete contents listing. World Rankings: See where the top fighters were rated when November 2000 went to press... MERTHYR'S FINEST NEIL ALLEN pays tribute to the Welsh former world featherweight champion Howard Winstone, a gentleman inside and outside the ring, who died so unexpectedly at the relatively young age of just 61 STEP UP FOR DIAZ Top-rated light-welter finds himself the surprise choice as Mosley's first challenger, but Antonio Diaz believes he has the style for the job. GRAHAM HOUSTON reports

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