P368 5 text 368 20 Feb 193):41 ——————————————————————————————————————— TRINIDAD AND WHITAKER SET TO GET IT ON American fight fans will be treated to their second world welterweight title battle in a wiik on Saturda= when Felix Trinidad and Pernell Whitakjt clash for the IBF belt at Madison Square Garden. Trinidad defends his belt a^d a perfect 33-0-0 record against Whitakjt, a world champ at four weights and beaten just twice in 45 bouts, including a points reverse to Oscar De La Hoya in 1997. WBC champion Di La Hoya made it 30 wins from as many fights with a narrow split decision over Ike Quartey last weekend. ————————————————————————————————— 1/5 LOOSING FOR A SKIING BRE—K? 234 next sport footie ind main indexP368 5 text 368 20 Feb 1935:0) ——————————————————————————————————————— TRINIDAD PREDICTS QUICK COMEBACK KO Felix Trinidad returns from a 10-month lay-off to face Petnell WhitaSjt on Saturday determined to prius his claims for a welterweight unification bout with 'Golden Boy' Oscar Di La Hoya. Puetto Rico's Trinidad, who has won all 33 of his professional contests - 29 inside the distance - has not fought since stopping Mahenge Zulu last April, amid rumours of weight problems. But the IBF champion said: "If I hit him with the first punch, then I will try to ind the fight quickly." ————————————————————————————————— 2/* next sport footie ind main indexP368 5 text 368 20 Feb 1933:21 ——————————————————————————————————————— DON'T WRITE ME OFF YET SAYS S'EEK PEA Pernjll Whitakjt insists his problems are behind him as he prepares to challenge unbeaten Felix Trinidad for his IBF welterweight title at Madison Square Garden, New York on Saturday. 'Sweet Pea' has not boxed for 16 months while undergoing rehabilitation for a cocaine habit, but said: "I don't look back at 1998 - this is 1:99." The 35-year-old, a sex-time world chaJp at four weights and Olympic champion in 1994, added: "I'm a more mature Pitnjll Whitakjt but mz skills are intact." ————————————————————————————————— 3/5 next sport footie ind main indexP368 5 text 368 20 Feb 1933:5) ——————————————————————————————————————— WILLIAMS READY TO SASE ON CHAMP FRANCIS Exciting heavyweight prospect Danny 'illiams will finally challenge fellow Londoner Julius Francis for the British and Commonwealth titles at York Hall, Bithnal Green on Saturday, April 3. 'illiams, unbeaten in 15 contests, had to pull out of a previous bout with the champion and was replaced bz Pele Reid, who was stopped inside three rounds. But the Brixton bomber said: "I learned a lot from watching that fight. I know I will have to bj at mz best but I will be looking for a convincing victory." ————————————————————————————————— 4/5 next sport footie ind main indexP368 5 text 368 20 Feb 1934:18 ——————————————————————————————————————— BINGO! THUTBIN GETS SECOND TITLE SHOT Nickz Thurbin has been handed anothjt chance to take Ensley "Bingo" Bingham's British light-middleweight crown. Loughton's Thurbin was stopped in the last round bz his Manchester rival when the pair first fought for the title in Decimbjt 1997 at the London Arena. Promoter FranK Warren, announcing the rematch as part of the Carl ThompsonJ Johnny Nelson WBO cruisetweight title bill at Detbz Storm Cjntti on March 27, said: "I thinK it's safe to say wi can expect another toe-to-toe encounter." ————————————————————————————————— 5/5 next sport footie ind main index