The fight involved no world titles, but that did not prevent it from being a large boxing event.

The behind the scenes storylines involving this fight helped build up fan interest too: Mayorga, nicknamed “El Matador” (“The Killer”), had been active for the two previous years, settling for a no contest and a knockout win (in a rematch) against Andrew Lewis, then defeating Vernon Forrest twice before losing to Cory Spinks, all in world title fights. He had also won one fight at the Middleweight division.

During the weigh-in the day before the fight, Mayorga, feeling taunted by Trinidad’s fans, responded by grabbing his genitals towards those fans. For the Trinidad fight, Mayorga dyed his hair red. Asked why he did that, he answered that he dyed his hair just because he felt like it.

Trinidad, for his part, had not been active for two years. He lost his motivation, according to him, after Hopkins refused to give him a rematch of their September 28, 2001 bout, in which Hopkins unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles by knocking Trinidad out in twelve rounds. After a win against Hacine Cherifi in four rounds in 2002, Trinidad retired. Trinidad reportedly reached a weight of 200 pounds (91 kg) during his retirement.

The fight was telecast on HBO’s Pay Per View, and commented by Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Roy Jones Jr. The fact it was held in New York guaranteed that many fans from both countries, especially Puerto Ricans, would come to cheer for their boxer.

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