ROAD-TO-REVENGE FAN-FAVORITE TRINIDAD TO FACE WRIGHT WITH ASPIRATIONS OF REMATCH AGAINST HOPKINS.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

Felix ``Tito'' Trinidad Jr. came out of a 29-month retirement Oct. 2 to stop Ricardo Mayorga in the eighth round of a slugfest at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Ironically, it was the same venue in which Trinidad suffered his only loss - via 12th-round TKO - to Bernard Hopkins on Sept. 29, 2001.

Although it may be partly true that Trinidad came out of retirement because of the adoration of his fans, he also badly wants to avenge his only setback.

Trinidad, of Puerto Rico, first will have to get by Ronald ``Winky'' Wright on Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They will square off in a World Boxing Council middleweight title elimination fight. HBO pay-per-view will televise.

If Trinidad wins and undisputed middleweight champion Hopkins defeats Jermain Taylor in July, we could see the Trinidad-Hopkins rematch near the end of the year.

Trinidad's promoter, Don King, last week told one newspaper that Trinidad wants a rematch with Hopkins ``worse than a rat wants cheese.''

``Well, those are Don King's words,'' Trinidad said Thursday, ``but that is true. I am real interested in that fight.''

Before Trinidad (42-1, 35 KOs) lost to Hopkins, he was 19-0 in world title fights while winning championships in the welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight divisions.

After the loss to Hopkins, Trinidad said he wanted a rematch; the parties could not get the deal done. Trinidad fought once more, winning via fourth-round TKO over Hassine Cherifi on May 11, 2002, then announced his retirement.

But Trinidad couldn't stay away. His father and trainer, Felix Sr., said he knew his son would be back in the ring.

``My reaction wasn't really of surprise,'' Felix Trinidad Sr. said. ``In the back of my mind, I knew that there was the possibility that he would come back. His fans were always pushing him and everyone was asking for him to return to the ring.

``When he decided to come back to boxing, I went along with the idea and told him I would help him, as I always did in the past.''

Apparently, Trinidad simply could not resist the temptation. He adores his fans, and they him. There is also a certain pride, he said, that comes with being a Puerto Rican prizefighter.

``I love the fans,'' said Trinidad, 32. ``The fans who have followed me, who have supported my career, I am very grateful. My legacy in boxing is very important to me.

``When I am out of boxing, I want the whole world to know that in Puerto Rico you can have great boxers. And in my name, Puerto Rico will have one of the great fighters of this era.''

When Trinidad came back and destroyed Mayorga in vicious fashion, Trinidad said he couldn't help but get caught up in the passion demonstrated by the fans at Madison Square Garden, most of whom were rooting for Trinidad.

``It was one of the most exciting times of my life,'' Trinidad said. ``Just to hear the fans chanting, 'Tito, Tito,' when I stepped in the ring. The only way I knew how to pay them back was to give them every single round and give the best performance that I could ever put together.

``It was kind of hard to describe, to go back into the ring and hear my name and to hear people screaming for me.''

What Trinidad really wants, however, is to hear those chants as he is taking apart Hopkins. He realizes he can't look past Wright because Wright is a great fighter in his own right.

Even Wright (48-3, 25 KOs) applauds Trinidad for getting back in the saddle again.

``We have to give Tito credit for his heart,'' Wright said, ``for his will to prove that he is the best. I take my hat off to him for that.''

Speaking of a Trinidad-Hopkins rematch, King said, ``I am ready, willing and able to make that fight any time anybody wants it.''

Trinidad wants it badly.

``It is important because I know he is not a better boxer than me,'' Trinidad said of Hopkins. ``I really want that rematch, to show him that I am a better boxer than he is.''

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Felix Trinidad seeks a rematch with Bernard Hopkins and recognition of his homeland in the lore of boxing's greats.

Al Bello/Getty Images

(2) Winky Wright gives his opponent Felix Trinidad credit for coming out of retirement and ``for his will to prove that he is the best.''

Joe Cavaretta/Associated Press

Box:

(1) TRINIDAD'S TITLES WON AND LOST

(2) FIGHT NIGHT