Bernard Hopkins vs. Felix Trinidad
Encyclopedia
Bernard Hopkins vs. Félix 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 Félix Trinidad
. The fight was dubbed the "AND THEN THERE WAS ONE", and the fight was for the all three titles in the chance to become the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler
. The bout would also determine the The Ring middleweight champion.
and was looking to make it 14, tying him with Carlos Monzón
for record defences. At around the same time, Félix 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 one of the best boxers in the world by many. He then decided to move up to middleweight, Don King had then organized a middleweight tournament featuring Keith Holmes, William Joppy
, Bernard Hopkins & Félix 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.
The bout was originally scheduled for September 15, 2001, but because of the September 11 terrorist attacks it was postponed for two weeks until September 29.
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 exhausted, 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.
At the time of the stoppage, Bernard Hopkins was leading the bout on all three judges scorecards. Don Ackerman had the bout 109-100 whilst both Stanley Christodoulou
& Anek Hongtongkam scored the bout 107-102 all in favour of Bernard Hopkins. HBO unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman
had Hopkins up 108-101.
Félix 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.
. In September 2009, Trinidad announced that he had officially retired from Boxing. His father, Félix Trinidad, Sr. announced that his son had not even entered a gym following his January 2008 defeat to Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins would go on to defeat several big names, including Oscar De La Hoya
& William Joppy
as well as defending his middleweight title a further six times, making it twenty defences before finally being dethroned by Jermain Taylor
. Following the two Taylor fights, Hopkins would defeat 3-to-1 betting favourite, Antonio Tarver
. He then defeated Winky Wright
in a catchweight 170 lb fight. Following this he lost a close split decision to Joe Calzaghe
, but rebounded with a dominant victory over undefeated middleweight
champion, Kelly Pavlik
. On the 21st May 2011, Hopkins at the age of 46 became the oldest world champion in boxing history by defeating Jean Pascal by unanimous decision for the WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship.
, Chad Dawson
,
Steve Cunningham
as well as potential rematches with Roy Jones Jr, Glen Johnson
& Joe Calzaghe
. None of the afformentioned bouts materialised and Hopkins received an approach from Don King about a potential rematch with Trinidad. Representatives for the pair met but were unable to thrash out a deal. Bernard Hopkins instead opted to face Enrique Ornelas
and to fight Roy Jones Jr in a rematch. He won both bouts by unanimous decision.
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City, between WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
& IBF
IBF
IBF may refer to:*International Boxing Federation is one of several boxing organisations* International Bandy Federation former name of Federation of International Bandy , an international governing body for bandy...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
champion Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins Jr, known as The Executioner is an American boxer and the current Ring Magazine and WBC light heavyweight champion...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
champion Félix Trinidad
Félix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
. The fight was dubbed the "AND THEN THERE WAS ONE", and the fight was for the all three titles in the chance to become the first undisputed middleweight champion since Marvin Hagler
Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
. The bout would also determine the The Ring middleweight champion.
General information
Hopkins had made 12 consecutive title defenses as a middleweightMiddleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
and was looking to make it 14, tying him with Carlos Monzón
Carlos Monzón
Carlos Monzón was an Argentine professional boxer who held the undisputed world middleweight title for 7 years, during which he successfully defended the title 14 times....
for record defences. At around the same time, Félix Trinidad had cleaned out the Welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
division defeating everybody in front of him including a win over Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
. Following this he made the move to Super Welterweight defeating Fernando Vargas
Fernando Vargas
Fernando Vargas is a retired Mexican American boxer and two-time world champion, who won a bronze medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata. His nicknames include "Ferocious", "The Aztec Warrior" and "El Feroz"...
and was by this time considered to be one of the best boxers in the world by many. He then decided to move up to middleweight, Don King had then organized a middleweight tournament featuring Keith Holmes, William Joppy
William Joppy
William Torelle Joppy is an American middleweight boxer. Joppy held the WBA middleweight title on two occasions. He first became the WBA champion in June 1996 by stopping defender Shinji Takehara in Japan with a flurry of punches in the ninth round. He then would make a couple defenses of his crown...
, Bernard Hopkins & Félix Trinidad.
On April 14, 2001, Hopkins defeated Keith Holmes by unanimous decision to retain IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
middleweight championship and also capture the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
belt. By defeating Holmes, Hopkins advanced to the final.
The bout was originally scheduled for September 15, 2001, but because of the September 11 terrorist attacks it was postponed for two weeks until September 29.
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 exhausted, 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.
At the time of the stoppage, Bernard Hopkins was leading the bout on all three judges scorecards. Don Ackerman had the bout 109-100 whilst both Stanley Christodoulou
Stanley Christodoulou
Stanley Christodoulou is a South African international boxing judge and referee. Christodoulou has judged bouts in his native South Africa, as well as internationally with the WBA, with whom he is involved in leaderships roles dealing with officiating...
& Anek Hongtongkam scored the bout 107-102 all in favour of Bernard Hopkins. HBO unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman
Harold Lederman
Harold Lederman is a celebrated boxing judge and analyst. He began his career as a boxing judge in 1967 and joined the cast of HBO World Championship Boxing in 1986, where he has been ever since....
had Hopkins up 108-101.
Undercard
Confirmed bouts:| Winner | Loser | Weight division/title belt(s) disputed | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ricardo López (c) |
 Zolani Petelo |
IBF International Boxing Federation The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :... light flyweight title |
8th round KO. | Last fight for unbeaten Mexican legend, Lopez. Last fight for 81 year old Arthur Mercante, Sr. as referee. |
 Michele PiccirilloMichele Piccirillo Michele Piccirillo is a professional boxer in the welterweight division.- Professional career :... |
 Rafael PinedaRafael Pineda Rafael Pineda is a Cuban-American television news reporter and anchor for the Spanish language station WXTV, the Univision affiliate in New York City.Born in 1938 in Cuba, he later immigrated to the United States as an adult... |
Welterweight (12 rounds) | Unanimous decision. | IBF Welterweight Title Eliminator, Pineda was credited with official knockdown in the 2d rd. Piccirillo floored Pineda in the 5th. |
| Byron Mitchell Byron Mitchell Byron Tarone Mitchell was an American boxer of height in the super middleweight division.-Amateur career:Mitchell was the 1996 National Golden Gloves Middleweight champion.-Pro career:... |
 Manny SiacaManny Siaca Manuel Alejandro Siaca, born , is a Puerto Rican boxer at super middleweight.Siaca was born in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. He turned pro in 1997 and challenged Bruno Girard in 2000 for the WBA Super Middleweight Title, but lost a split decision... |
WBA World Boxing Association The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962... super middlweight title |
Split decision | Siaca down in the first. Mitchell down in the 12th. |
Aftermath
After the fight, Bernard Hopkins was named 2001 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year, and also won this award from the World Boxing Hall of Fame.Félix Trinidad would go on to fight Hacini Cherifi before announcing his retirement from boxing. He would then make several come backs, defeating Ricardo Mayorga
Ricardo Mayorga
Ricardo Mayorga , is a Nicaraguan professional boxer. He is the former WBA/WBC Welterweight champion and the former WBC light middleweight champion. He holds a record of 29-8 with 23 knockouts and 1 draw 1 no contest. He was featured for the first time on the cover of Ring Magazine on the December...
and losing to Winky Wright
Ronald Wright
Ronald Wright is a Canadian author who has written books of travel, history and fiction. His nonfiction includes the bestseller Stolen Continents, winner of the Gordon Montador Award and chosen as a book of the year by the Independent and the Sunday Times...
and Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
. In September 2009, Trinidad announced that he had officially retired from Boxing. His father, Félix Trinidad, Sr. announced that his son had not even entered a gym following his January 2008 defeat to Roy Jones Jr.
Bernard Hopkins would go on to defeat several big names, including Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
& William Joppy
William Joppy
William Torelle Joppy is an American middleweight boxer. Joppy held the WBA middleweight title on two occasions. He first became the WBA champion in June 1996 by stopping defender Shinji Takehara in Japan with a flurry of punches in the ninth round. He then would make a couple defenses of his crown...
as well as defending his middleweight title a further six times, making it twenty defences before finally being dethroned by Jermain Taylor
Jermain Taylor
Jermain Taylor is an American professional boxer and former undisputed middleweight champion. He made his professional boxing debut in 2001 and won his first 25 bouts, which included victories over former champions Raúl Márquez and William Joppy...
. Following the two Taylor fights, Hopkins would defeat 3-to-1 betting favourite, Antonio Tarver
Antonio Tarver
Antonio Deon Tarver , nicknamed the "Magic Man", is a professional boxer from Orlando, Florida and the former WBC, WBA, IBF, & The Ring light heavyweight champion....
. He then defeated Winky Wright
Winky Wright
Ronald Lamont "Winky" Wright is an American boxer, the former undisputed world light middleweight champion and a current middleweight contender....
in a catchweight 170 lb fight. Following this he lost a close split decision to Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
, but rebounded with a dominant victory over undefeated middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
champion, Kelly Pavlik
Kelly Pavlik
Kelly Pavlik is an American professional boxer. He was The Ring, WBC, & WBO middleweight champion from when he beat Jermain Taylor on September 29, 2007 until he lost his titles to Sergio Martinez on April 17, 2010....
. On the 21st May 2011, Hopkins at the age of 46 became the oldest world champion in boxing history by defeating Jean Pascal by unanimous decision for the WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship.
Rematch
Following his victory over Kelly Pavlik, Hopkins began a search for an opponent. Many names were thrown around including; Tomasz AdamekTomasz Adamek
Tomasz Adamek is a Polish professional heavyweight boxer. His record is 44-2 .He is the former WBC world light heavyweight champion and the former IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine cruiserweight champion. As of the end of 2009, Ring Magazine has ranked Adamek as the 30th best boxer in the world...
, Chad Dawson
Chad Dawson
"Bad" Chad Dawson is an American boxer from Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, and the former WBC & IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is rated by The Ring Magazine as the number four Light Heavyweight boxer in the world.-Early life:...
,
Steve Cunningham
Steve Cunningham
Steven Ormain Cunningham is an American professional boxer. Nicknamed USS Cunningham in reference to his 1994–1998 US Navy service on the aircraft carriers and .-Amateur career:...
as well as potential rematches with Roy Jones Jr, Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson (boxer)
Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...
& Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
. None of the afformentioned bouts materialised and Hopkins received an approach from Don King about a potential rematch with Trinidad. Representatives for the pair met but were unable to thrash out a deal. Bernard Hopkins instead opted to face Enrique Ornelas
Enrique Ornelas
Enrique Andrade Ornelas , is a Mexican boxer. He competes in the Middleweight division.-Personal life:Born in Jesus Del Monte, Guanajuato, he now makes his home in La Habra, California...
and to fight Roy Jones Jr in a rematch. He won both bouts by unanimous decision.