Inside Trinidad-Hopkins
August 31, 2001
By Patrick Mitchell
Trinidad camp interview by Patrick Mitchell: The fight on every boxing fan’s mind at the moment is the upcoming superbout between long-time middleweight king Bernard Hopkins and legend-in-the-making Felix Trinidad. It pits two of the most respected boxers in the world in a match-up many are predicting will be the fight of the year.
The promotion for the bout has been classic Don King. Half professional wrestling, half out of control train wreck, a King-promoted superfight is sometimes more entertaining than the contest itself. For this fight, Trinidad’s camp, usually media friendly and open, has adopted a bunker mentality with media access strictly monitored by father/trainer, Don Felix Trinidad Sr.
Hopkins meanwhile, has decided that “excess is best”, promoting the fight in the press on an almost daily basis. But Bernard hasn’t limited his gamesmanship to media sound bites. While at a press conference to promote the fight in Trinidad’s native Puerto Rico, Hopkins ratcheted up the intensity a few notches by grabbing the Puerto Rican flag from Tito’s hand and tossing it to the ground. Strangely, the huge Puerto Rican audience didn’t appreciate the gesture.
The ensuing scene was comical. Any second, I expected Joe Rogan of the television show “Fear Factor” to show up - “Bernard, if fear isn’t a factor, I want you to throw Tito’s flag down, run through this crowd of bottle wielding Trinidad worshippers, over the bleachers, take hold of the rope ladder hanging from the helicopter, and hang on as it wisks you to safety!” After a few tense moments, Hopkins made it safely off the island.
If, as Hopkins’ promoters say, the flag-throwing incident is nothing more than a little psychological warfare, an attempt to upset Trinidad, it seems to have worked. Nicolas Medina, Team Trinidad’s long time attorney and advisor, said that Felix took it personally.
“Throwing the Puerto Rican flag on the ground was ungentlemanly conduct. It’s one thing to act this way in the ring, where there are rules and a referee. Outside the ring, he should show good sportsmanship,” Medina told me. “Hopkins’ conduct was not that of a civilized person, or a sportsman. He behaved in an uncivilized, violent, and unprofessional manner.
“That’s the conduct of a prisoner, an inmate, someone who’s committed crimes and violated laws. He should conduct himself as a responsible citizen. Hopkins’ behavior was condemned by everyone. Even those close to him don’t support that kind of conduct. You should ask his manager, Lou DiBella, how they feel about that kind of behavior,” added Medina.
Whether Hopkins has achieved his goal of intimidating Felix and gaining a psychological edge before the fight is another matter. Medina’s not concerned. “That kind of behavior doesn’t bother Tito. All that it does is undermine Hopkins as an opponent. It’s basically backfiring on Hopkins,” he said.
Madison Square Garden, where the bout will take place on September 15, isn’t exactly the local church rec hall when it comes to staging big fights. It’s seen its share of near riots in the past, such as the wild scene that followed the Bowe vs Golota I fight in 1996, when Golota was actually assaulted in the ring by a walkie talkie wielding fanatic after the bout’s conclusion. Speak to anyone planning to attend the Trinidad vs Hopkins bout, and security is a concern.
Medina said that Hopkins’ conduct leading up to the fight has only exacerbated the situation. “That kind of behavior can produce incidents that aren’t good for the sport. We condemn that kind of activity. Now people question whether it’s even safe to go to a boxing event,” he said. “It puts a lot of stress on security at the Garden, and on the promoters, because that kind of conduct creates problems.
“Felix’s supporters have always behaved peacefully. There’s never been a violent incident at any of his fights. Our public, our people have always behaved as good sportsmen. You need to look at Hopkins and his people. His managers and promoters need to take measures to ensure the fight stays in the ring.”
Medina said that Trinidad is very confident in his ability to defeat Hopkins, then move up in weight to face Roy Jones at super-middleweight, and beyond. “He’s not at all concerned with Hopkins’ physical strength, or his ability to fight in close. Felix is the strongest middleweight in the world right now. He definitely feels he has the physical frame and strength to successfully jump up to 168 pounds to challenge Roy Jones Jr,” said Medina. “There’s no doubt in that. He’s demonstrated that as he moves up in weight, his strength and power have increased.”
I even joked with Medina that after the Jones fight, maybe they should schedule a heavyweight fight for Tito. Medina didn’t think it was all that strange. “Some people have suggested that we need to move up to heavyweight,” he chuckled. “You never know. Let’s see how he does against Roy Jones at 168 pounds. Let’s see how he does against Hopkins. Moving to 175 pounds is a very real possibility after Roy Jones. We’ll analyse the fights, then we’ll decide on moving up further in weight.”
Recent reports that Trinidad may be considering calling it a career after fighting Jones are false, Medina said. “Felix has a lot of enthusiasm for the sport right now. This is his ‘golden age.’ He’ll fight Hopkins, then Roy Jones, and then we’ll analyse the situation fight for fight, whatever the market brings up,” he said.
It appears Felix is very aware of his current place in boxing, on the brink of becoming a true legend in the sport. “Felix is the only fighter out there who’s fighting the best competition. He already has his place in history. After he beats Hopkins, he’ll be talked about with the greatest of all-time,” said Medina. “He’s on the brink of being considered an immortal in the sport. If he defeats Roy Jones, watch out Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Ali, because he’ll be moving ahead of them.”
The anticipation for this one is killing me. Two of the best fighters in the world, facing off with each other at Madison Square Garden, not only for money, but for glory. Both attempting to cement their place in boxing history. Each with styles that don’t complement one other, but clash head on. If you plan on laying down the money for one pay-per-view event for the rest of the year, let it be this one. It’s a pretty safe bet that it’ll live up to the hype.
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