Norwalk, CT (BoxingGurus.com) - The Felix "Tito" Trinidad and "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas camps don't agree very much with how this weekend should play out, so the Nevada State Athletic Commission stepped in and used an old fashion way of deciding things. They flipped a coin.
The two camps could not work out an arrangement as to who would enter the ring last, traditionally given to the champion and/or boxer with more star power. So Marc Ratner, Executive Director of the commission, flipped a $100 gold Mandalay Bay coin to see who would make their entrance last. One side of the coin read "Mandalay Bay" and the other side read "100 dollars."
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Could this be the next great 'SuperFight'?   Laura Rauch (AP)
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Vargas' promoter, Main Events Chief Operating Officer Gary Shaw, called out "Mandalay Bay" as the coin was flipped. It landed "100 dollars," so WBA Junior Middleweight champion Felix Trinidad won an ego boost by selecting to make his entrance last, but he will be introduced first in the ring. IBF Junior Middleweight champion Fernando Vargas will get the honor, once in the ring, to be the star and get introduced last by ring announcer Michael Buffer.
This might not seem like a big deal to the average person, but to a boxer this is a way to set the tone and start the gamesmanship very early and try to get into the other fighter's head.
Trinidad (38-0, 31 KO) is a 7-5 favorite, and Vargas is trying to tell bettors to be cautious on betting on "Tito." "If they judge Trinidad's performance against David Reid, then a lot of people are going to lose money," said Vargas (20-0, 18 KO). "I'm not David Reid."
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Trinidad at the press conference   Laura Rauch (AP)
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Trinidad countered back by saying through an interpreter, "I was better than him (Reid) and I'm better than Vargas, too."
The two camps did agree on a couple things. Both boxers chose to use Reyes gloves. A very interesting choice since that brand of glove is considered a "puncher's glove." That might be an indication that the fighters are looking to take each other out and win in a decisive way.
Also agreed upon is the way the purse will be split up. Trinidad will get $4 million for the fight, while Vargas will take home $2 million. Both fighters will also split a portion of the revenue generated through PPV sales.