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Ready to battle for the undisputed middleweight championship. Written by Ozzie Gonzalez & Mercedes Marrero
Trinidad, who has had trouble making weight in the past, appeared fit and trim, weighing 158 1/2 pounds. Hopkins who also appeared in great shape weighed in at 157. As Trinidad got on the scale, many of the Hopkins' camp looked on closely to make sure the scale was read accurately. Don Felix also looked closely when Hopkins got on the scale. After both weights were announced, Hopkins refused to take a group picture with Don King and Trinidad, but posed for the media and yelled out "USA, USA USA". Both fighters seem ready for battle and eager to prove who is the best middleweight champion in the world. Trinidad won the WBA middleweight title last May by defeating William Joppy by knockout in the fifth round and Hopkins defeated Keith Holmes at the opening match of the tournament and has been champion since 1994. Despite the long stretch of successful title defenses by Hopkins, Trinidad has always stated that Joppy was the best middleweight out of the three boxers in this tournament. Hopkins, who claims that he will win this fight and get the respect he deserves as the true middleweight champion, will have a tough time against Trinidad who is angry and seeking revenge for the disrespect shown to the Puerto Rican flag.. In the finale of the middleweight tournament unification bout, one man will walk away with all three belts, the Sugar Ray Robinson middleweight trophy and the honor of going down in history as one of the best middleweight champions ever. We can hardly wait!
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September
28, 2001 -- WBA middleweight champion Felix " Tito" Trinidad
(40-0, 33 KOs) and IBF & WBC middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins (39-2,
28 KOs) stepped onto the scale on Friday and both fighters weighed-in
under the 160 pound limit during the weigh-in ceremony at Madison Square
Garden in NYC.