On December 2, 2000, he was scheduled to fight in a unification card against Fernando Vargas, the International Boxing Federation's junior middleweight champion. The fight began in a fast pace with Trinidad connecting a solid left hook that led to his opponent being knocked down. Vargas was able to stand up, but another classic left hook led to another knockdown. Early in the second round Trinidad was in the offensive but Vargas connected a solid combination at the round's closing moments which caused a slight swelling under Trinidad's right eye. In the fourth round's opening seconds a Vargas' short left hook connected on Trinidad's jaw and he fell on his backside getting up immediately., marking the eighth knockdown in his career. In the fifth round Vargas was in control of the fight's offensive, connecting combinations to Trinidad's body. In the sixth round Trinidad regained control of the fight's tempo that lasted throughout the contest, connecting punches on Vargas' head and left jabs to the ribs. In the eighth, Vargas displayed signs of exhaustion which slowed his offensive while Trinidad then pursued the offense with combinations to the body. This pattern continued throughout the ninth, tenth and eleventh rounds. Opening the final round Vargas was on the offensive, connecting a solid left hook. Trinidad countered the attack with a left hook that made Vargas collapse; Vargas was able to stand up, but was subsequently knocked down for a second time. With Vargas injured, Trinidad continued connecting combinations, and he ended his combination by putting Vargas down for the 3rd time in the round with a right hand which resulted in the referee waving the fight off, making Trinidad the winner. During the fight, Trinidad was penalized twice for low blows, although the second one was legal, being exactly on the beltline. Vargas himself was penalized the same amount of times.
on december 2 2000 he was scheduled to fight in a unification card against fernando vargas the international boxing federation's junior middleweight champion the fight began in a fast pace with trinidad connecting a solid left hook that led to his opponent being knocked down vargas was able to stand up but another classic left hook led to another knockdown early in the second round trinidad was in the offensive but vargas connected a solid combination at the round's closing moments which caused a slight swelling under trinidad's right eye in the fourth round's opening seconds a vargas' short left hook connected on trinidad's jaw and he fell on his backside getting up immediately marking the eighth knockdown in his career in the fifth round vargas was in control of the fight's offensive connecting combinations to trinidad's body in the sixth round trinidad regained control of the fight's tempo that lasted throughout the contest connecting punches on vargas' head and left jabs to the ribs in the eighth vargas displayed signs of exhaustion which slowed his offensive while trinidad then pursued the offense with combinations to the body this pattern continued throughout the ninth tenth and eleventh rounds opening the final round vargas was on the offensive connecting a solid left hook trinidad countered the attack with a left hook that made vargas collapse; vargas was able to stand up but was subsequently knocked down for a second time with vargas injured trinidad continued connecting combinations and he ended his combination by putting vargas down for the 3rd time in the round with a right hand which resulted in the referee waving the fight off making trinidad the winner during the fight trinidad was penalized twice for low blows although the second one was legal being exactly on the beltline vargas himself was penalized the same amount of times