By Miguel Hernandez

HAVANA, Cuba - This coming Sunday, it will be 23 years since the legendary Puerto Rican boxer Felix "Tito" Trinidad (42-3, 35KOs) captured his first international medal as an amateur. 15 years ago, in Guantanamo, Cuba, Trinidad lost in the final round of an international tournament when he was matched against one of the greatest Cuban boxers of all-time, Mario Kindelan, who later became the Olympic champion at Sydney and Athens. As fate would have it, the six-time world champion in three weight divisions finally returned to Cuba for the first time since the 1988 amateur defeat.

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - In Puerto Rico, there are those who consider you the best ever, and there are others who say it's Wilfredo Gomez.

"We are always being compared. I hate to be talking about that subject, whether I'm the best or not, but the boxing world and the public knows who 'Tito' Trinidad faced. A boxer can not be measured by records. Gomez was a great fighter but I think I had a lot of great opponents in my career. The public knows that we are both great champions of Puerto Rico. Really I have nothing against Gomez. he's is a great friend, a great person."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - There was a recent story that you gave promoter Don King a "gift" of $500,000 dollars. I've been told there is more to that story.

"Indeed there is. Don King had a debt that he owed to me and my father [money stemming from the bout with Roy Jones Jr. on January 19, 2008]. So we told him to keep the money as a birthday present [King turned 80 on November 4]. We wanted to make a gesture in a nice way, and we did not call the press to let you guys know. We did not ask him to do that."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - Who in your opinion is the best fighter in the world?

"Manny Pacquiao ...nine world titles. Unbelievable, tremendous physical conditions. The fight with Floyd Mayweather should happen for the sake of boxing. And for me, Pacquiao will win."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com -Several Cubans have turn pro in the last few years. Who impressed the most?

"Joel Casamayor. He is very good."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - Did you see how his career ended?

"Yes, at 40-years-old he fought against Timothy Bradley and lost by knockout."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - I was referring to Casamayor testing positive for marijuana in the post-fight.

"He came out positive? Wow, I did not know that. I was in the process of traveling to Cuba. Oh my God, it is unfortunate because he's been one of the greatest Cuban boxers of the recent era."

BoxingScene.com/Notifight.com - You never officially announced your retirement? Do you plan to come back as you've done a few times in the past?

"That's true, I never announced my retirement, but I already gave my best years to boxing. Both me and my father are convinced that we already saw my best [career] moments happen."