Big fiesta in Puerto Rico for Trinidad

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- The Fight of the Millennium
(pre-fight coverage).

Big fiesta in Puerto Rico for their new hero
Felix "Tito" Trinidad.

"Forget Ricky Martin, now it's Trinidad. He's our new hero." said Marta Rodriguez, a transportation clerk in Puerto Rico.

September 20th, 1999 - More than 50,000 people from all parts of the island of Puerto Rico met at the Luis Muñoz Marin International airport in Isla Verde, San Juan. With artificial fire and to the beat of Caribbean music they gathered, waiting patiently outside the airport to receive their new hero, Felix "Tito" Trinidad, welterweight boxing champion of the world. Trinidad was returning from the "Fight of the Millennium" in Las Vegas, Nevada after beating the once undefeated Oscar De La Hoya, resulting in the addition of the WBC Welterweight belt to his IBF crown.

On Sunday, the governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rossello announced that public workers would have the afternoon free so that they could receive the Puerto Rican champion. "Puerto Rico, recognizes the labor of a great champion, the labor that was view worldwide from Las Vegas," he said in a message of welcome. "We have to be here because Tito is a great person, an example to our youth and a great boxing champion," said Rossello, as he welcomed Trinidad off the plane.

Trinidad arrived around 10:00 in the morning in a private plane coming from Las Vegas, Nevada. "From now on there will come more victories and success, in the welterweight as well as in the super welterweight class, this is only the beginning," he affirmed during a press conference at the airport. "I'm a true "Boricua," I always told Puerto Rico, I promised this victory and here we are with this victory," he said emotionally in front of a cheering crowd. "I'm ready to confront De La Hoya, in the welterweight division as well as in the super welterweight," he added. "I hope this time he will stop and fight, that he will stop running."

Later the multitude of people at the airport followed a caravan headed by Trinidad travelling down Baldorioty de Castro Avenue to unite with thousands of others at a grand festival held at the Luis Muñoz Marin Park to welcome and honor Trinidad. At the festival the crowd waited under the hot sun and midday pouring rain with signs congratulating Trinidad. They gathered not caring if they got soaked, cheering and expressing happiness for the victory Trinidad had brought Puerto Rico. Trinidad arrived at the ceremony under the pouring rain and enjoyed every minute of his welcome. The celebration included the participation of musical groups like Grupomania, Tommy Olivencia Orchestra and the famous "Gran Combo de Puerto Rico".

Puerto Rico, especially the metropolitan area was immobilized at Trinidad's arrival. There were traffic jams from the airport till late hours of the night. People who needed to catch international flights from the Muñoz Marin International airport in Isla Verde, San Juan had to walk almost three miles to the main terminal. Flights scheduled from the United States to Puerto Rico were delayed from their point of origin to avoid air traffic congestion, allowing half a dozen media helicopters to capture this historical event.

The welcoming of Puerto Rico's champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad was one of the biggest event in some time in the island of Puerto Rico, it has been compared to the receiving of Pope John Paul II when he visited the island in 1984.