Bernard Hopkins vs Felix Trinidad - Highlights (Hopkins KNOCKS OUT Trinidad)

#bernardhopkins #bernardhopkinshighlights #bernardhopkinsknockouts

** NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED **

Support me on PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/jeffjacksonboxing
Support me on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/jeffjacksonboxing

September 29th, 2001. Two legends met in the ring in one of boxing’s most memorable fights; Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad squared off in a mega fight for the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship with the WBA, WBC and IBF and vacant The Ring Middleweight titles on the line.

This fight was originally scheduled for September 15 but due to the tragic September 11 attacks it was pushed to the 29th.

In June 1993, 20 year old Trinidad captured the IBF Welterweight title via KO2 over Maurice Blocker. Tito would make 15 successful defenses of the title and in 1999 he captured the WBC strap from “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya via MD.

After a highly successful career at Welterweight, Tito moved up to Super Welteweight to challenge “The American Dream” David Reid for the WBA title in March 2000. In a competitive fight, Trinidad won a hard fought albeit clear UD.

After one successful defense of his WBA title, Tito added the IBF strap to his collection by stopping “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas in the 12th round in another amazing scrap.

Highlights of Trinidad-Reid;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdVS2pRHBu0

Highlights of Trinidad-Vargas;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPZUfISLUqo

By that time, Don King organized “The Middleweight World Championship Series” featuring 2 elimination fights; Felix Trinidad-William Joppy and Bernard Hopkins-Keith Holmes with final winner crowned as the Undisputed Middleweight Champion.

Trinidad stops Joppy in the 5th round, winning the WBA title; becoming world champion in 3 weight divisions. Hopkins would beat Holmes via UD.

In April 1995, 30 year old Hopkins becomes World Middleweight Champion winning the vacant IBF Middleweight title via TKO7 over Sergundo Mercado. With this win, he also avenged a draw against Mercado (also an IBF world title fight) back in December 1994.

From January 1996 to April 2001, Hopkins made 12 successful title defenses and his 12th defense was a UD over Keith Holmes (as part of the above mentioned tournament), where he also added the WBC Middleweight Title to his collection.

Going into the fight, Trinidad had notable victories over Maurice Blocker, Hector Camacho, Luis Garcia, Luis Ramon Campas, Oba Carr, Rodney Moore, Larry Barnes, Freddie Pendleton, Kevin Lueshing, Troy Waters, Pernell Whitaker, Hugo Pineda, Oscar De La Hoya, David Reid, Fernando Vargas and William Joppy while Hopkins’ best wins include Segundo Mercado, John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Simon Brown, Robert Allen, Antwun Echols, Syd Vanderpool and Keith Holmes.

Despite being the naturally smaller fighter, Trinidad was a 2-1 betting favorite.

There were 2 controversies that occurred before this fight:

1) In a pre fight press conference, Hopkins snatched the Puerto Rican flag from Trinidad’s hands and threw it on the ground while “declaring war” on Trinidad. He defended his actions as a retaliation towards Puerto Rican fans who did not show respect for the national anthem during the Trinidad-Joppy fight.

2) Prior to the fight, Trinidad’s camp was accused of gloves tampering. However, further investigations by the NYSAC revealed that no tampering was involved in the wrapping but a technical illegality took place as it was not wrapped in accordance with the rules of the state of New York.

Extra layers of gauze and tape were discovered in the wraps which is not illegal but in the state of New York, it is only allowed with the approval of the commission as well as trainers from both camps and only if the grounds was to prevent injury. Hopkins and his camp refused to proceed with the fight until Tito’s hands are rewrapped.

Note that this is in no way similar to the infamous gloves tampering of Margarito as this is only a case of technical illegality but the original wraps would not have given Tito any unfair advantages, thus no penalties whatsoever were slapped against Trinidad or his camp. Trinidad Sr had stated that he was asked to rewrap in a way that might have impeded some of Tito’s power.

The first half of the fight was more competitive although Hopkins was clearly leading. However the second half was largely dominated by Hopkins with combinations and power shots. It is also interesting to note that Hopkins weighed in at 157 pounds, 3 pounds below the Middleweight limit which increases his mobility, largely contributing to his victory.

This is considered to be one of Hopkin’s best career performances and many have considered this fight to cement his place in boxing history. Hope you guys like this highlight!

And don’t forget to rate, comment and subscribe! Muchas gracias!

Видео Bernard Hopkins vs Felix Trinidad - Highlights (Hopkins KNOCKS OUT Trinidad) канала Jeff Jackson