Bernard Hopkins vs Felix Trinidad

Bernard Hopkins vs. Felix Trinidad was a boxing match that took place on September 29, 2001, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, between WBC & IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and WBA middleweight champion Felix Trinidad. The fight was dubbed the "AND THEN THERE WAS ONE",Box, Rec, [http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/d/dc/Hopkins.Trinidad.Prog.jpgHopkins-Trinidad 'AND THEN THERE WAS ONE' Program] , "BoxRec.com", 2001-05-15, Retrieved on 2008-08-24] and the fight was for the all three titles in the chance to become the first undpisuted middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler. The bout would also determine the "The Ring" middleweight champion.

General information

Infobox Boxingmatch
fight date=September 29, 2001
Fight Name=AND THEN THERE WAS ONE


fighter1=flagicon|United States Bernard Hopkins
nickname1=The Executioner
record1=39-2-1 (28 KO)
hometown1=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
recognition1=WBC middleweight Champion
IBF middleweight Champion

fighter2=flagicon|Puerto Rico Felix Trinidad
nickname2=Tito
record2=40-0 (33 KO)
hometown2=San Juan
recognition2=WBA Middleweight Champion

titles=WBA middleweight title
WBC middleweight title
IBF middleweight title
Hopkins made 13 consecutive title defenses as a middleweight and was looking to make it 14, tying him with Carlos Monzon for record defences. At around the same time, Felix Trinidad had cleaned out the Welterweight division defeating everybody in front of him including a win over Oscar De La Hoya. Following this he made the move to Super Welterweight defeating Fernando Vargas and was by this time considered to be the one of the best boxer in the world by many. He then decided to move up to middleweight, Don King had then organised a middleweight tournament featuring Keith Holmes, William Joppy, Bernard Hopkins & Felix Trinidad.

On April 14, 2001, Hopkins defeated Keith Holmes by unanimous decision to retain IBF middleweight championship and also capture the WBC belt. By defeating Holmes, Hopkins advanced to the final.BBC, Sports, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1279143.stm Hopkins waits for next 'victim'] , "BBC.co.uk", 2001-05-15, Retrieved on 2008-08-24]

The bout was originally scheduled for September 15, 2001 but was postponed due to the September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The fight was then schedule for September 29, 2001. BBC, Sports, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/1551381.stm Trinidad fight rescheduled] , "BBC.co.uk", 2001-09-18, Retrieved on 2008-08-24]

Bout summary

The fight begins slowly, with both fighters circling the ring at a distance and trading jabs in a close first round. The second round follows suit, with Hopkins and Trinidad still feeling each other out and staying away from one another. Hopkins lands the first big punch of the fight, an overhand right just before the bell. Hopkins begins to get comfortable in the third and take the fight to Trinidad, landing his jab consistently from the outside. In the fourth, the pace picks up and Trinidad lands his first power punches of the night. Hopkins takes the punches well and comes back with big blows of his own in the round's closing seconds. Hopkins, typically known for his brawling style, continues to go against form in the fifth by constantly moving around the ring and outboxing Trinidad. The style seems to confuse Trinidad, who gets caught by good shots throughout the round. Trinidad has his best round in the sixth, backing Hopkins against the ropes and landing multiple left hooks. It is the first round that clearly goes to Trinidad. The pace slows again in the seventh as both fighters look to catch their second wind. Hopkins remains the more mobile fighter, dancing away from most of Trinidad's punches. Hopkins is really beginning to outclass Trinidad and lands numerous good combinations. Trinidad gamely continues to come forward, but cannot find the target with any big shots. Trinidad senses he is in trouble and comes out firing in the tenth. But after throwing several flurries that do no damage, it appears he has punched himself out. Hopkins lands huge punches in the last minute and stuns Trinidad with a right to the chin just before the bell. Trinidad comes for the eleventh on very shaky legs. By contrast Hopkins is looking completely fresh and Trinidad begins to hold on in desperation. Before the last round, Trinidad is slumped in his corner exhasuted, while Hopkins smiles and looks animated on his stool. Hopkins lands punch after punch on an obviously beaten Trinidad. Midway through the round, he connects with a huge right to the chin that leaves Trinidad crumpled on the canvas. Trinidad is in no condition to finish the fight and no-one would dispute Smoger's decision to stop the action.cite web
last =Boxing
first =BBC
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Hopkins-Trinidad, Round-by-Round
work =
publisher =BBC Sport
date =2001-09-30
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1571484.stm
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doi =
accessdate =2008-05-28 ]

Aftermath

After the fight, Bernard Hopkins was named 2001 fighter of the year by the World Boxing Hall of Fame.cite web
last =Boxing
first =BBC
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Hopkins on top of the world
work =
publisher =BBC Sport
date =2001-11-05
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1582134.stm
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-05-25 ]

Felix Trinidad would go on to fight Hacini Cherifi before announcing his retirement from boxing. He would then make several come backs, defeating Ricardo Mayorga and losing to Winky Wright and Roy Jones Jr..

Bernard Hopkins would go on to defeat several big names, including Oscar De La Hoya, William Joppy, Antonio Tarver & Winky Wright as well as defending his middleweight title a further six times, making it twenty defences before finally being dethroned by Jermaine Taylor.

References

External links

* [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:179603 BoxRec fight analysis]