Hopkins Too Much For Trinidad
By Derek Kellam
30.09
- Last night Bernard Hopkins proved to the world that
Felix Trinidad was no match for his skills and experience.
Not only did he win the fight, he stuck it to Trinidad
round after round…finally TKOing Felix in the
final round. This fight was so one sided, that at
best Trinidad only won the 1st and 6th rounds. Hopkins
showed his superior skills by utilizing his speed,
quickness, power and grit to their fullest potential.
Landing frequently with precision, Hopkins had his
way with Trinidad…no, what he did was put on
a spectacular clinic. No one could believe their eyes
when Hopkins relentlessly got his shots off first
and ducking under or moving away from Trinidad's left
hook, frustrating the former and brief WBA middleweight
champ. At 36 years old very few gave him a chance
but Hopkins was so sure of his talent, he bet 100
grand for him to win…after selling ad space on
his back. Even after watching this lop-sided display
most will be saying what happened to Felix? What went
wrong? Not giving Bernard Hopkins his credit…Well
I tip my hat off because I saw this coming (Don't
count out the 'Executioner' Just Yet, Aug 17 01)
What Hopkins 40-2-1 (29) did do was
he followed his game plan from the start…Trinidad
40-1 (33) didn't do any damage to the underdog or
land a clean shot. Trinidad was clearly getting more
frustrated as the fight wore on. Hopkins fought a
very brilliant fight leaving all the naysayers in
shock with rocking right hands often sending Felix
into a walking stupor. Whether Felix had his mind
on future opponents, dollar signs or any other distraction,
Hopkins out classed Trinidad. Hopkins was presumed,
quite prematurely, to be at a cross roads in his career
and he was able take full advantage of that. Now Hopkins
can set up a fight with Roy Jones or a rematch with
'Tito', whom he offered the first crack at the undisputed
middleweight titles…but after tonight I don't
think any of Felix's' corner would be willing to jump
on that offer.
Now Felix has suffered his first defeat
in an impressive career and he is faced with starting
a new chapter in boxing. Should Felix leave middleweight
and give De La Hoya 34-2 (27) or 'Sugar' Shane 38-0
(35) a go, since his mega fight with Jones Jr. is
out of the question? Nothing is certain for Trinidad…at
least for now. As for Hopkins anything is possible
as he proved to the world that he is as good as he
says he is. He has now successfully defended his title
a record tying 14 times. I believed in him then and
I believe in him now…they only opponent for him
now is Roy Jones. Felix wishes he was fighting that
mega fight with Roy, and so does his fans, but like
I've been saying from the moment that Trinidad won
that questionable decision over De La Hoya…how
can anyone dream of Felix Trinidad being a better
fighter than Jones when he couldn't make a fight with
Bernard Hopkins?
Congratulations Bernard, you deserve
this and all the money that goes along with a stunning
display of skills and heart.
Derek Kellam
Kellamskorner@hotmail.com
ON GREATNESS
By Adeyinka Makinde
01.10
- Right from the time of its making, the Bernard Hopkins-Felix
Trinidad match up promised the victor a reward which
would transcend the 'secondary issues' of multi-belt
holder and financial remuneration. The writing and talking
both between and within the lines pointed to a coronation
of sorts; the anointing and appointing of the 'one left
standing' as a bonafide great of the contemporary game
and most likely a place among the standouts of the different
era's. Indeed, the creation of the Sugar Ray Robinson
Trophy in honour of the man many critics rank as the
interdivisional champion of all time; or colloquially,
as pound-for-pound, the most complete boxer, set the
conditions for what Messrs. Trinidad and Hopkins were
fighting for: an elevation to boxing immortality. And
now that Hopkins has sailed through his test with almost
embarrassing ease, will he be elevated to the rarefied
heights of pugilistic valhalla or will the fans and
pundits renege on this sense of promise, steadily built
up in the pre-fight promotion?
I pose this question because I feel
uneasy about the manner in which history has favoured
certain fighters and has correspondingly made it difficult
for others when ascertaining who will be remembered
as a great fighter. Consider the the rivalry between
the recently departed Sandy Saddler and Willie Pep.
Saddler beat Pep in three meetings out of four, yet
when a list of the greatest featherweights is produced,
one tends to locate the name of Saddler behind that
of Pep. Another duet that comes to mind is that of
Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio; both Welterweights
cum Middleweights. Almost all would put Basilio miles
below Sugar Ray. Yet Basilio engaged in two closely
(and maliciously) fought bouts winning the first and
losing the return.
My point is that the Hopkins-Trinidad
bout appeared more to be about establishing Trinidad's
credentials as a 'great' than it was about Hopkins
assuming this mantle. Trinidad with his unbeaten record,
win over the glamorous figure of Oscar De La Hoya,
his success across the divisions was the betting favourite
and negotiated a pecuniary deal far in excess of what
Hopkin's was earning. Hopkins on the other hand possessed
a solid but unspectacular record sullied by a loss
to Roy Jones. There are some fighters who have a certain
style and an aura aspects of which are undefinable
as to be bordering on the esoteric. They are 'more
attractive' than their contemporaries and because
of this are more susceptible at gaining recognition
than those who in fact are their equals and in some
circumstances, their betters.
Willie Pep at his peak had a style
that bordered on the ethereal, a swiftly moving master
of scientific boxing who arched his blows and evaded
his opponents punches with consummate ease and with
seemingly effortless artistry. The style of Sandy
Saddler, now of blessed memory, was as far off from
the Pep school of 'fancy dan' boxing as chalk is different
from cheese. But his robustly direct and ruggedly
aggressive modus was as efficient and infinitely more
destructive than Pep's ever was. I would submit that
Saddler would have beaten Pep three times out of four
at any stage of their careers.
So far as Robinson and Basilio are
concerned, I have no reason to break ranks with the
notion that as a fighter, he was Basilio's superior,
as indeed I have few grounds to deviate from popular
estimates that he is the greatest fighter of all time.
Yet, all Basilio remembers is that he stood in there
with Robinson for thirty rounds and did not embarrass
himself.
In the aftermath of the fight, the
two questions which need to be posed are whether Hopkins
has indeed ascended to greatness and also whether
Felix Trinidad can regain enough credibility in the
future to be ranked as a great.
Fighting greatness encompasses the
tried and tested criteria of overall ability and durability:
punching power, ability to take a punch, stamina,
adaptability, guile and so on. Hopkins has consistently
though unspectacularly displayed the full range of
these traits and most impressively has demonstrated
an adeptness at merging the physical as well as psychological
dimensions of his craft to pull out a famous victory.
He didn't simply go in and knock Trinidad over because
he had the advantage of being the 'natural' middleweight,
he actually out thought and out manoeuvred a man who
it was felt had a better boxing brain. His blustering
performances at the pre-fight conferences in both
words and actions; parts of which were considered
to be in poor taste, are likely in hindsight to be
seen as skilfully crafted ploys aimed at bolstering
his confidence and wounding Trinidad's psychological
equilibrium. He was uncompromising in his methodology
of focusing his professional ire at Trinidad by sporting
apparel bearing the word 'WAR' even at the risk of
the disapproval of many of his countrymen given recent
events.
Does Hopkins deserve the tag of great
fighter? Well, if you beat what is put before you
in your career, it would appear to be a valid appellation.
Should his achievement be played down because some
will now claim that Trinidad was merely an overblown
Welterweight? Of course not. Marvin Hagler's fighting
credentials went up with victories over the likes
of Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and a peak form John
Mugabi.
On the other hand, will Trinidad's
loss irreparably damage his quest for greatness? Not
necessarily. Fighter's like Henry Armstrong and Sugar
Ray Robinson failed during excursions to heavier divisions
though admittedly, Armstrong's draw with Ceferino
Garcia and Robinsons loss to Joey Maxim bear little
similarity to Trinidad's situation. For while Armstrong
did not succeed on a technicality and Robinson's loss
was due more to a New York City heatwave rather than
to Maxims punches, Trinidad was comprehensively outboxed
and then stopped. Nevertheless, a return to the lower
divisions to tackle the likes of Sugar Ray Mosely
and Oscar De La Hoya and beating them would be a route
to attaining this status. Before that comes about
however, he will be in need of a lengthy rest to heal
the physical and spiritual wounds inflicted by Hopkins.
It is of course with Hopkins we must
end. He has overcome the crippling early circumstances
of criminality. He reconstituted and revived himself
after losing to Roy Jones to become the dominant Middleweight
of the late nineties. He has upset odds that figured
him to be Trinidad's inferior.
Let us hail Bernard Hopkins, a great
champion.
The author may be contacted at adeyinkamakinde@aol.com
Trinidad-Hopkins Press Conference
By Ike Enwereuzor
Jacboxing@hotmail.com
27.09
- The final undisputed middleweight championship press
conference was held Wednesday Sept 26. It kicked off
with Don King, IBF/WBC middleweight champion Bernard
"the Executioner" Hopkins and WBA middleweight
champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad (Photo by
Suzanne Plunkett, AP) who came together at the Garden's
Theater in New York City to announce their rescheduled
meeting on Saturday September 29, at Madison Square
Garden main arena. The Trinidad-Hopkins bout was originally
scheduled for September 15 but was called off after
last week's terror attack in the United States.
Hopkins and Trinidad spoke to the
press. Here's what they had to say.. Hopkins and his
people were wearing a black hats with WAR written
on them. Hopkins said that he's not in mourning stage.
"I understand what happened at the World Trade
Center, but I have to block that out. I'm in a position
to be killed or kill."
When Tito's people in the crowd were
jeering and waving Puerto Rican flags as Hopkins spoke.
"You can take the people out of Puerto Rico -
but you can't take out the mentality."
"Just like any other exceution,
you're entitle to your last meal," said Hopkins
who presented Trinidad with last meal. "For this
meal, I asked all of my Spanish friends back in Philly
what they like to eat, they told me rice and beans."
At this point Hopkins gave Trinidad a bag of rice
and BeansFather, trainer and
manager of Felix Trinidad, Papa Trinidad took time
to respond to Hopkins. "In Puerto Rico, we do
eat a lot of rice and beans, that's why we have a
lot energy in the ring."
Trinidad told the press "I
want to tell you there will be another victory for
Puerto Rico."
He also said "You (Hopkins)have
been doing many things that neither I nor other Putero
Ricans like, and you know what they are. I'm not going
to repeat them. But I'm going to remind you of them
with my punches in the ring. I have promised that
to my people that support me, love me and that fellowed
my career."
As far as my fight, my father has
said that I have trained hard for this fight and I
like to train hard for every fight. But on this occasion
I want to show Bernard Hopkins that Tito Trinidad
and the Puerto Ricans are to be respected."
Promoter Don King stated that Trinidad,
Hasim Rahman and himself are donating $500,000 each
to a relief fund in regards to the World Trade Center
terror attack where many lost their lives.
