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The HBO replay of the Middleweight Unification tournament fight between WBC And IBF champion Bernard Hopkins and WBA Champion Felix Trinidad.
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00:00:00...to what is really for us at HBO, the main event of the evening.
00:00:04And that's our videotaped replay look at last Saturday night in Madison Square Garden
00:00:08when Bernard Hopkins fought Felix Trinidad for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world.
00:00:13Larry Merchant, the fight was originally scheduled for September 15
00:00:17and then postponed two weeks as the result of the events of September 11.
00:00:21Coincidentally, you were in New York on September 11, the day the terrorist attack took place.
00:00:27How do you feel the fight, 18 days later, fit into the mood and the mosaic of New York City
00:00:33in this troubled and tragic time?
00:00:35A bit of a diversion for a continuous heartbreak, Jim.
00:00:40I went down to Ground Zero to see, to smell, to witness the devastation.
00:00:45I stumbled on a firehouse where the names of 22 dead firemen were scratched on a blackboard.
00:00:52I passed Empire State Building when there was no traffic around.
00:00:57There had been a bomb scare.
00:01:00But I also, on walking on Broadway, came across several hundred Broadway performers
00:01:08singing New York, New York, and 42nd Street.
00:01:12It seemed that any corner you turned in New York, you might see something you had never seen before.
00:01:18And certainly, that was what developed when Bernard Hopkins went into Madison Square Garden.
00:01:24Against Felix Trinidad, who was favored by 2-1, 3-1, in some places 3.5 or 4-1.
00:01:31Emmanuel Stewart, you were one of the few experts who really gave Hopkins a significant chance
00:01:35to win the fight.
00:01:36But in your wildest dreams, tell me the truth now.
00:01:40Could you really have imagined that Bernard would dominate Felix the way he did?
00:01:44Yes, it is.
00:01:45Amazing.
00:01:46I thought he had a very good chance of doing it.
00:01:48First of all, after interviewing both of the guys in particular, you realize that Hopkins
00:01:52had a very realistic plan, very well thought out.
00:01:55And Trinidad's plan was basically just to knock Hopkins out.
00:01:59I think as a result of having the great punch and power success he had in the fights with
00:02:03Vargas and the fight that he just recently had with Joppy, his entire strategy was just
00:02:08consistent of getting in position to throw the power left hook.
00:02:11Always getting in the position to throw it.
00:02:13And in the meantime, Hopkins was beating him to the punch, out-punching him, out-smarting
00:02:17him.
00:02:17And actually, when they had to stand toe-to-toe, he actually out-slugged him.
00:02:21He never at any time let Trinidad take control over the fight.
00:02:25And Trinidad had no other plan except left hook, left hook.
00:02:28And if you watch the tape for the fight, he throws about 10 left hooks for every right hand
00:02:32that he throws.
00:02:33It's a brilliant performance by Hopkins.
00:02:35Feast your eyes on someone who has mastered every facet of the game.
00:02:40Tale of the tape for Felix Trinidad against Bernard Hopkins with a 160-pound weight limit.
00:02:45Hopkins' 36-year age was thought to be a deficit.
00:02:49Trinidad's age of 28 was thought to be an advantage.
00:02:52Hopkins two inches taller.
00:02:53Trinidad with the unusually long arms and the reach advantage on paper.
00:02:57They both weighed in under the 160-pound limit after having spent nearly two and a half
00:03:02weeks at or near the weight.
00:03:04An unusual experience for boxers.
00:03:06Now let's go to the action, beginning with ring announcer Jimmy Lennon in Madison Square Garden.
00:03:14Introducing to you first on my left, fighting out of the red corner, wearing red, white,
00:03:20and blue trunks, hailing from and representing Cupe Alto, Puerto Rico.
00:03:33He weighed in at 158 and one-half pounds.
00:03:37He is undefeated in his campaign in the ring with 40 wins, no losses, 33 wins coming by way
00:03:44of knockout.
00:03:46Here is the five-time world champion in three-weight divisions, the current WBA middleweight champion
00:03:53of the world.
00:03:54Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome El Gran Campeón Puerto Riqueño.
00:04:01Introducing Felix, Tito Trinidad.
00:04:20And his opponent across the ring on my right, fighting out of the blue corner, wearing red
00:04:26trunks with silver trim, fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
00:04:32He weighed in at a trim and ready, 157 pounds.
00:04:37His marker stands at 39 wins, two losses, one draw with 28 wins coming by way of knockout.
00:04:45Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, he is making the 14th defensivist title.
00:04:50Here is the WBC and IBF middleweight champion of the world, introducing Bernard, the executioner Hopkins.
00:05:08Once again, our referee in charge, Steve Smoger, now to give instructions.
00:05:12Gentlemen, we're giving you instructions to weigh in both in English and Spanish.
00:05:15Please, obey my commands, protect yourself at all times, respect the belt, touch gloves, touch them up.
00:05:22Respect, respect, touch them, Bernard.
00:05:24Let's go, let's go.
00:05:26The fight to survive and thrive have always made New York a fight town.
00:05:35Now more than ever, Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad personified that spirit.
00:05:48Guys, you got to back up so we can see.
00:06:06Trinidad can't be waiting with this boxer.
00:06:09He's got to get off.
00:06:11Bernard Hopkins' job is to stay close.
00:06:13make this guy discouraged, make him look to the referee
00:06:16and start complaining early
00:06:17because that referee's speech didn't impress me at all.
00:06:22Hard right hand over the top by Hopkins,
00:06:24partially blocked by Trinidad,
00:06:26but serious enough to make him move back into the corner.
00:06:34Vivo! Vivo! Vivo! Vivo! Vivo! Vivo!
00:06:44Vivo. Delaware.
00:06:46Brown overwhelmingly in favor of Trinidad
00:06:48as they demonstrated in pre-fight pageantry.
00:06:51Trinidad likes to have room
00:06:53when he throws his punches.
00:06:55It's up to Hopkins to stay close, as close as he can.
00:06:59Hopkins prizes his skills as an in-fighter.
00:07:03Many experts expect that Hopkins at some point
00:07:05will try to get up into Trinidad's kick
00:07:07and take away his punching ring.
00:07:09And he hasn't done that yet.
00:07:11The old saying is, Oscar De La Hoya moved,
00:07:13I'm gonna move, but yet that's not the way to fight, Trinidad,
00:07:16because you lose energy as the rounds go on.
00:07:20As De La Hoya learns,
00:07:24they trade jabs through much of round one.
00:07:27Biggest blows so far, a Hopkins right hand over the top.
00:07:32Trinidad'd like to stay paused with his...
00:07:35on the ball of his right foot
00:07:36and just throw that lead with that right hand.
00:07:40You always compare him to a sprinter,
00:07:42the way he gets up on that front foot.
00:07:44He's on the mark, and Hopkins' job is to keep him off the mark.
00:07:48Trinidad lands the left hook as Hopkins backs away
00:07:50from their first test-to-test clinch.
00:07:53Hopkins tries to go inside again,
00:07:55working to try to get at Trinidad's body.
00:08:09Both fighters try and lead right hands.
00:08:13Hopkins just not figured yet how to get close.
00:08:19Now he's got it. He's got to keep it just like that.
00:08:22That's the fight he won.
00:08:23Hopkins holding with the left hand upstairs
00:08:25as he hit with the right hand downstairs.
00:08:29Smoker hasn't yet been a part of the action.
00:08:31He's the third man in the ring, the referee.
00:08:34Bernard Hopkins want to keep hugging
00:08:36and pushing this guy.
00:08:38Keep this a wrestling match in his favor.
00:08:42On the right hand inside by Bernard.
00:08:45Hopkins again lands the right.
00:08:47Trinidad misses his. Hopkins lands his own.
00:08:53Round one is a bit of a scuffle.
00:08:56Hopkins got a little of what he wanted
00:08:57and landed two right hands.
00:09:02And showed that he's not gonna be walking into that left hook
00:09:06if he can help it.
00:09:08I need you to jab, okay?
00:09:09I need you to jab, all right?
00:09:11Jab from me, baby. Jab.
00:09:13Stay out of the corner.
00:09:15The fight shows in the center of the ring,
00:09:17and I want you to jab.
00:09:18Pop that jab.
00:09:19We worked on it, so let's pop it.
00:09:20Pop it and get the jab right.
00:09:22Oh, yeah, a little bit.
00:09:24All right.
00:09:25The same thing you did in the first round.
00:09:27Let's continue that.
00:09:28I mean, we're calm.
00:09:30You know, be tranquil.
00:09:31Hey, hey, he can't beat me.
00:09:34I got him.
00:09:35Are you okay, Natito?
00:09:38You gotta move, Tito.
00:09:45You got that jab.
00:09:46Make sure the jab is first.
00:09:48Come on.
00:09:51Well, it wasn't a first-round knockout.
00:09:54Plan B.
00:09:56It wasn't even a highly artistic first round.
00:09:59By CompuBox numbers, it was a missed punch fest.
00:10:02Trinidad was 4 out of 27.
00:10:04Hopkins was 6 out of 43, according to CompuBox.
00:10:10Harold Letterman scored the round for Tito Trinidad.
00:10:15Hopkins is being real small.
00:10:17He jabs, yet he understands that he has small of a reach advantage with the height there.
00:10:21And he's out of the way once he does that jabbing.
00:10:24And moving primarily to his left, trying to get away from the deadly left of Trinidad.
00:10:33You really want to make Trinidad throw a lot of left, because he prefers to hit you with that right,
00:10:38then throw that left hook.
00:10:41George, is it fair to guess that Hopkins either wants to be way outside or way inside?
00:10:47Yeah, he just hasn't figured out this guy yet.
00:10:49Trying to get relaxed in there, and that's the hard job.
00:10:52But to move around, he's not comfortable moving.
00:10:54I can tell you that.
00:10:59Trinidad needs room, and that benefits Trinidad when the fight is at long range.
00:11:04There you go!
00:11:06So again, they trade for long range in round two.
00:11:11Neither fighter really into an offensive rhythm yet.
00:11:17Trinidad threw a limited number of punches for him in round one.
00:11:20Now he lands a right hand across the top.
00:11:23Trinidad trying to close the range down and step in on Hopkins.
00:11:28He's trying to close the range, but yet he wants to keep some distance so that long right hand can
00:11:32come.
00:11:32Well, he doesn't want to completely close it.
00:11:36Looking to get right on the mark.
00:11:41Hopkins sticks the jab to move.
00:11:43This is unusual that Hopkins would give Trinidad this kind of respect in the first couple rounds.
00:11:49Very surprised.
00:11:54That's what you don't want to do.
00:11:55You thought that Hopkins would gamble more against Trinidad early?
00:11:58Jump right on him.
00:11:59You're not.
00:11:59He said he wasn't afraid.
00:12:01Talking the talk.
00:12:02Now you got to jump on him.
00:12:07Hopkins beginning to unveil his jab and sticking it accurately for the moment.
00:12:12Once he takes any of Trinidad's power, then you're really going to see the motorboat move.
00:12:44Hopkins can see that Trinidad only want to lay on a hard shot.
00:12:47Nothing to help.
00:12:49And that's a dangerous position to be in when you're in the ring with a guy.
00:12:52Knowing that he's intense.
00:12:54Hard right hand by Hopkins.
00:12:55Biggest blow in the fight.
00:12:57Trinidad momentarily stopped.
00:12:59Bell, bell, bell, bell.
00:13:00Bell, bell, bell.
00:13:02Bell, bell, bell.
00:13:09Means, digamos, how do you feel, Tito?
00:13:12He didn't hurt you, did he?
00:13:14But don't get canapsed now.
00:13:19Don't get canapsed now.
00:13:20At the moment.
00:13:21You've got to go the way.
00:13:22Make sure you're going to put it.
00:13:31A good ball.
00:13:36Hopkins has been working at distance with his jab,
00:13:40hoping to get Trinidad to come to him.
00:13:44Found him in range.
00:13:46The punch was a little high.
00:13:49Trinidad might have been momentarily stunned
00:13:51but took the punch well.
00:13:57CompuBox numbers in round 2.
00:13:59Hopkins, 10 out of 40.
00:14:01Trinidad, 2 out of 19.
00:14:03So Felix Trinidad, in 2 rounds,
00:14:06has thrown by CompuBox numbers,
00:14:07only 46 punches.
00:14:09Hopkins throwing twice as many,
00:14:11not landing all that much,
00:14:12but the one big right hand
00:14:14was the biggest blow of the fight.
00:14:16You don't want to get a kid like that mad.
00:14:19Once you hit him once, get back on him
00:14:20and do something.
00:14:27Tito's father asking him some...
00:14:29his son to work the jab, work the jab.
00:14:32He tries to get started with it here,
00:14:35firing the left hand again.
00:14:39Trinidad is on the mark.
00:14:42What do you mean by that, Joey?
00:14:43He's on the ball of that right foot.
00:14:45When you see him up on the...
00:14:46on his right foot like that,
00:14:48he's on the mark getting ready to deliver
00:14:50like a track run or something, take off.
00:14:52Well, now, you've got to keep him off that position.
00:14:54You've got to keep him out of that position.
00:14:56And how? How do you keep him out of that position?
00:14:58By moving to his left,
00:14:59so he always have to pick that foot up and set it down.
00:15:03Now he's off. Now...
00:15:07Hopkins says he'll be watching his feet as much as his hands,
00:15:11just for that reason.
00:15:12Hopkins varying the pace just a little,
00:15:15leading with the left hook there instead of the jab.
00:15:18Now Trinidad fires his own right hand across the top
00:15:21and gets the top of Hopkins' hands.
00:15:23He allowed Trinidad to get set that time,
00:15:26and he paid for it.
00:15:30The range is closing up a little.
00:15:33Trinidad moving closer.
00:15:37And Tito beginning to loosen up
00:15:39and throw a few more punches.
00:15:40That was the case in the first couple of rounds.
00:15:43Hopkins' back is starting to touch the ring,
00:15:45the ropes, a lot more.
00:15:48That's what you don't want,
00:15:49letting your back touch the rope with Trinidad.
00:15:52So you think Hopkins wants to stay in the middle of the ring
00:15:54and box with Tito?
00:15:55Yeah, he can box, and he can...
00:15:56He's always successful if he boxes,
00:15:58but you don't want your back touching those ropes.
00:16:00Hands up.
00:16:01Get the ball, get the ball, get the ball, get the ball, get the ball, get the ball.
00:16:05You don't need the whole ring to box.
00:16:07Just the middle of it.
00:16:16That's a fight that Hopkins won.
00:16:19Hog and push and hit.
00:16:20You may notice that there's some printing
00:16:23on the back of Bernard Hopkins,
00:16:26who rented it out for about $100,000
00:16:28to a dot-com gambling service,
00:16:33and then bet the $100,000 on himself to win the fight.
00:16:38Either way, the service is winning, huh?
00:16:41Yeah, either way, the tattoo is already fading
00:16:43as the sweat pours off of Hopkins' body here in round three.
00:16:47But Bernard Hopkins isn't fading.
00:16:49No, and the bet looks pretty good, at least for the moment,
00:16:52as he gives Trinidad a spirited fight.
00:16:55Bernard Hopkins is dictating the tempo,
00:16:57and he's making Trinidad think about coming more to him.
00:17:02Hopkins sticks the gap right on the point of Trinidad's 10
00:17:05as round three comes to a close.
00:17:15Okay, how do you feel?
00:17:17Deep breath, deep breath.
00:17:21With your hands up, you've got to keep your hands up.
00:17:26It's going to be easy now.
00:17:28It's only a matter of time before you get him.
00:17:30I'm a competitor.
00:17:31You're going to have to get him there.
00:17:33Yeah, I'm a competitor.
00:17:35At the heart, so that quick shot inside.
00:17:38You get him out of there.
00:17:46Yeah, right.
00:17:47Let's go.
00:17:48Let's go.
00:17:49Let's go.
00:17:49Let's go.
00:17:50Let's go.
00:17:51Let's go.
00:17:52Get that corner on your way out.
00:17:54Bernard Hopkins showing that a Philadelphia fighter
00:17:58can box as well as brawl whatever his reputation is.
00:18:04Round four begins.
00:18:05Harold Lederman, how'd you score the first three?
00:18:07Okay, Jim, I got a two to one, 29-28.
00:18:11Bernard Hopkins, it's in the first round.
00:18:13That's what Trinidad put Hopkins good,
00:18:15and Bernard would take that step to the right and rush in.
00:18:17Tito put him on the way out, but that's two and three.
00:18:20It's that Hopkins left, Jim, boxing from the outside,
00:18:23the occasional straight right hand,
00:18:25landing the pleading shots, out boxing him.
00:18:28Now Trinidad has Hopkins moving in on him.
00:18:31That's what you want.
00:18:32You want Hopkins to get that brave to try to follow
00:18:35this hard-hidden Trinidad.
00:18:42Trinidad opens up, lands two power shots.
00:18:45Hopkins tries to fire back immediately.
00:18:48Trinidad misses with the right.
00:18:49Hopkins lands his own.
00:18:51Backstreet O'Rourke, fires the left hook.
00:18:55Trinidad getting as good as he finishes out.
00:18:58Now lands the short right hand inside.
00:19:00Power against power.
00:19:01Which man is stronger at close range?
00:19:04This is not a good idea for Hopkins to mix it up with Trinidad.
00:19:07He's done an excellent job of using his brains.
00:19:10Don't go back to Philadelphia too soon.
00:19:13Well, perhaps he's realized so far that he can deal with Trinidad's punch.
00:19:19No, that punch can't be dealt with, Larry.
00:19:22You got to stay smart.
00:19:24Must stay smart.
00:19:25Don't punch!
00:19:26Don't punch!
00:19:27Don't punch!
00:19:27Step, step, step!
00:19:28Felix Trinidad only threw 67 punches in the first three rounds of the fight by
00:19:32CompuBox numbers.
00:19:33That's a very limited offensive output.
00:19:35He has begun to fire here in round four, but Hopkins is firing back and lands a right hand to
00:19:41the body there.
00:19:41There you go!
00:19:43There you go!
00:19:44There you go!
00:19:44There you go!
00:19:45Clean jab by Hopkins.
00:19:48Tito!
00:19:49Tito!
00:19:50Tito!
00:19:51Tito!
00:19:51Tito!
00:19:52Tito!
00:19:53Tito!
00:20:10Tito!
00:20:11Tito!
00:20:11And Hopkins' intending to move like this is a good idea that he did weigh in at 157.
00:20:16That can help him.
00:20:18off the neck!
00:20:19off the neck!
00:20:19밀ers will find a-off!
00:20:19They started to outside, Hopkins up in the corner.
00:20:22Hopkins landed three punches in a row, and Felix went to the body as Bernard moved away.
00:20:29Bernard once again is spending too much time on the ropes.
00:20:38So far, Hopkins has completely neutralized the left hand of Trinidad.
00:20:47Can Trinidad find a way to put him on the defensive without that left hand?
00:20:54The right hand fails there.
00:20:57Hard right hand by Hopkins, Lance Blush.
00:21:06And it was a close enough round that that last big right hand by Hopkins may have been the
00:21:11decisive.
00:21:14Look around at him.
00:21:20Don't let him out jab you.
00:21:22He wants to jab because he don't want you to jab.
00:21:24If he don't like that jab, he jab with him.
00:21:27All right?
00:21:29Quick shot.
00:21:30Don't worry about the big shot.
00:21:30I want to see the quick shot.
00:21:32All right?
00:21:35He's not going to hit you.
00:21:36You got to take it easy.
00:21:38Don't get careless now.
00:21:40That was the fifth round.
00:21:41And that was calm.
00:21:48You got to keep your hands up.
00:21:50Yeah, you got to keep your hands up so you can get him.
00:21:52You got to keep my hands up.
00:21:53That's a good job.
00:21:54Okay, real tight.
00:22:02Bernard Hopkins' trainer, Louie Fisher, is not nearly as well known as Felix Trinidad,
00:22:08senior.
00:22:08But Fisher is a 73-year-old proven bro who knows every trick in the book and has done a
00:22:15brilliant
00:22:15job of training Hopkins throughout his career.
00:22:18He told him to try to jab with Trinidad.
00:22:20That's not a good idea. Don't jab with him.
00:22:23You catch him off balance and then jab him
00:22:24because he turns that jab into a hook
00:22:26once you start trying to step in with power.
00:22:30Trinidad does. He will.
00:22:34Wait until he's finished and then get him.
00:22:42Hopkins blocking Trinidad's jab with his right glove.
00:22:47Try to get him off.
00:22:53Try to get him off.
00:22:55Try to get him off.
00:22:57Try to get him off.
00:22:58He's continually moving to his left.
00:23:00Stay away from Trinidad's left.
00:23:02And he steps in and bangs his right hand
00:23:03against the side of Trinidad's head.
00:23:06Hopkins misses the right.
00:23:07Trinidad misses the left.
00:23:08Hopkins fires a little left for his side.
00:23:14He's doing a good job of staying over there,
00:23:16making Trinidad throw those left hooks.
00:23:18That's what you want to be
00:23:19because he's a bit more accurate
00:23:20with his right hands, Trinidad is.
00:23:22Make him miss with left hook.
00:23:24Don't try to make him miss with the right hands.
00:23:30Hopkins a little bit quicker with his jab.
00:23:38Now Trinidad corners him.
00:23:39Tries to step in, Bernard steps away.
00:23:49Solid left by Trinidad.
00:23:51Trinidad seeming to take a little velocity off the left
00:23:54just trying to land it.
00:23:56Hopkins is not making the mistake that Bernard,
00:23:58that Jabby did by letting Trinidad lay on his left hand.
00:24:03He holds him.
00:24:05And certainly not making the mistake
00:24:06that both Jabby and Vargas made
00:24:08of standing in front of Trinidad.
00:24:11He hasn't done much of that.
00:24:13And he's still the length.
00:24:14Yeah, look at Tom.
00:24:14He's still the length.
00:24:14So it's still the length.
00:24:15Oh!
00:24:19Go on!
00:24:20Go on, guys!
00:24:36and he's winning most of the rallies.
00:24:40Yeah, but Hopkins has moved a lot of him for footwork,
00:24:44legs up, moving around.
00:24:45That's not good.
00:24:46He's got his back against the ropes.
00:24:47He's living dangerously.
00:24:49He's still outscoring Trinidad.
00:24:51He's landing two punches to everyone for Trinidad.
00:25:07They fight after the bell,
00:25:09and Hopkins ditches out twice as much.
00:25:20And the crowd comes alive.
00:25:26Okay, deep breath now.
00:25:27Take a deep breath.
00:25:30We're okay.
00:25:31We got him now.
00:25:32But when you exchange his punches,
00:25:34make sure you come back with something else.
00:25:37You got to.
00:25:37You're too strong for him.
00:25:39You got him already.
00:25:40He hit you, and he can't do nothing to you.
00:25:44Where's the professor, baby?
00:25:46Quick right hand.
00:25:47Put it at the shoulder.
00:25:48And come up to here.
00:25:49Put it at the shoulder.
00:25:52Deep breath.
00:25:53Deep breath, please.
00:25:54Deep breath.
00:25:58Trinidad in close quarters.
00:26:01The bell rings.
00:26:01Trinidad throws a left hook.
00:26:04And as Bernard Hopkins says,
00:26:05he's not going to ask the referee to change things.
00:26:08He'll take it into his own hands.
00:26:13When Oscar De La Hoya came out
00:26:14and appeared to many eyes at ringside
00:26:17to win the first seven rounds
00:26:18against Felix Trinidad,
00:26:20none of the three judges sitting at ringside
00:26:22scored it exactly that way.
00:26:25Right now, there's a chance
00:26:26that in the eyes of many here,
00:26:28Bernard Hopkins has won the first five rounds
00:26:30against Trinidad.
00:26:31Will the judges once again
00:26:33insist on giving rounds to Trinidad
00:26:35when he doesn't seem to be winning any of them?
00:26:38That's what happened against De La Hoya.
00:26:40This is the kind of champ Trinidad
00:26:41that you're going to have to knock him out to win it.
00:26:44You may as well forget trying to win this thing on point.
00:26:47If you want the title that he possess,
00:26:49you've got to knock him out.
00:26:52So you're saying that Bernard
00:26:54couldn't fool himself into believing
00:26:56that he's succeeding just because
00:26:57he seems to be winning the rounds.
00:26:58No, you can't coach yourself to a victory
00:27:00with a champion like this.
00:27:01The judges are not going to allow you to do it.
00:27:04And I think this pace is a little too much
00:27:06for Bernard Hopkins.
00:27:07He's used too much of his legs
00:27:09earlier on.
00:27:10Well, certainly, Trinidad hasn't overused his.
00:27:13He's only thrown 23 punches per round,
00:27:15which is a very low punch output
00:27:17by CompuBox numbers.
00:27:19Now Trinidad lands a big right hand
00:27:22against the ropes,
00:27:23but Hopkins steps away
00:27:24and lands in return.
00:27:31Remember, Trinidad's amazing stamina.
00:27:35Hopkins lands a right.
00:27:37Trinidad lands a left.
00:27:38Felix is a marathon runner
00:27:39who builds the tempo from round to round,
00:27:42and he's trying to build it
00:27:43with the left hook right here.
00:27:45Four straight left hands by Trinidad.
00:27:49Hopkins blocks almost every one of those punches.
00:27:58And there's no sign yet that Hopkins is wearing down.
00:28:01Oh, yeah, there's a lot of signs.
00:28:03But Trinidad's cornering him.
00:28:05What are the signs that he's wearing down?
00:28:07He went to his ring to a corner
00:28:09and laid his legs flat out.
00:28:11Trinidad's still sitting in a sitting position.
00:28:15Hopkins looks pretty good here
00:28:16as he backs Trinidad up with a combination.
00:28:20A furious pace in round six.
00:28:23By far the best round of the fight.
00:28:30Back to the ropes again, Hopkins.
00:28:37They begin to trade power shots at close range,
00:28:41and this is Trinidad's game.
00:28:44Can't play power shots with Trinidad.
00:28:47Because every time he hits you,
00:28:49you are still lingering on.
00:28:52The damage lingers on and starts to accumulate.
00:28:55Trinidad ripping left hook snap.
00:28:59And he pushes Hopkins head back,
00:29:01and Smoker says, don't do it again.
00:29:07Round six was a beauty.
00:29:18Keep doing your job.
00:29:23Keep doing your job.
00:29:25Keep doing your job.
00:29:25Don't give me no excuses for no bullshit out there.
00:29:27Keep doing your job.
00:29:29You're going all right.
00:29:30All I think I want to see is that quick right hand.
00:29:33That quick right hand.
00:30:00That was a clean hard shot, which...
00:30:04Trinidad seemed to take well.
00:30:08Trinidad, aggressive, perhaps a little frustrated at the end.
00:30:14You're not going to find this kind of determination
00:30:16often in a fight, as you see in Phoenix Trinidad.
00:30:19Why don't you want to give Hopkins more credit, George?
00:30:22He's fighting a terrific fight so far.
00:30:24He's doing a great job, but this determination of this guy
00:30:27keeps coming back.
00:30:28It just takes everything out of your legs,
00:30:30takes everything out of your heart.
00:30:31Well, they're both champions.
00:30:34Between rounds, Felix Trinidad asked his father in the corner,
00:30:37am I winning the fight?
00:30:39And Trinidad Sr. said, yes, you are.
00:30:42Harold Lederman, how have you scored it through six?
00:30:44Okay, Jim, four rounds to two, 58-56, Bernard Hopkins.
00:30:49And that was my wildest dream of thought that I'd ever see
00:30:51Bernard Hopkins win his fight with an outside game,
00:30:54but that's what he's doing, staying outside,
00:30:56popping the jab, coming back with the straight right hands.
00:30:58Tonight, round six, I just thought Felix Trinidad
00:31:00was a little bit the aggressor, got in a better shot
00:31:03of giving Trinidad rounds one and six, all the rest to Hopkins.
00:31:10Hopkins trying to load up with that quick right hand.
00:31:13Everything is trying to execute what his trainer told him to do,
00:31:16throw the quick right hand.
00:31:17Trinidad catches you in that exchange.
00:31:19It's top trouble time.
00:31:20More and more, George, Trinidad is able to land his left hook.
00:31:25Why?
00:31:27But Hopkins is giving me the left hook
00:31:29because if he's able to land one jab and stay a little closer,
00:31:34he's always able to get the left hook off.
00:31:36I don't worry about the left hook if I'm, uh, Hopkins.
00:31:39I worry about that right hand.
00:31:41Four punches in combination by Hopkins there,
00:31:44finishing up to the body.
00:31:45You got the chain. You got the chain.
00:31:49You got the chain, you got the chain.
00:31:51You got the chain.
00:31:52You got the chain.
00:31:55Trinidad stalking relentlessly,
00:31:59imposing mental pressure on Hopkins,
00:32:01as he does on all of his opponents.
00:32:03Even when technically outgunned,
00:32:06Felix Trinidad is always coming.
00:32:08always coming good thing about Hopkins he's not allowed Trinidad to get up on
00:32:13that right foot it's making him keep it flat that's what you want if he's gonna
00:32:17hit you let him be out of position to do it good
00:32:29the expectations of many that's not like a philadelphia fighter at all
00:32:37thank you
00:32:40George they've been a lot of great boxing out of Philadelphia and you couldn't survive the famous gym wars in
00:32:46Philadelphia if you couldn't box
00:32:49well these guys boxing tonight
00:32:54Oscar De La Hoya exposed the vulnerability of Trinidad
00:33:00and Bernard Hopkins is trying to use that model to dominate the fight
00:33:05yes particularly Trinidad's vulnerability to feints and movement Hopkins said to me
00:33:10I'm no Bella Oya but I saw that Felix fell for every faint against Oscar so I'll be using them
00:33:16too
00:33:20you're closing in on him son
00:33:22as long as you keep that jab going you're homer you're gonna be home free with it
00:33:28alright you cannot out-jag you
00:33:36ok let's see if you get up there you throw some punches so we can get him now you gotta
00:33:41work with him real good
00:33:45let's see if we can punch up and down you gotta throw punches one hand when you get him when
00:33:52you get him the fight will be over
00:33:53he's not gonna be able to take your punches but you've got to know that your hands have to be
00:33:59up keep your hands up
00:34:06three judges one from the United States one from Thailand one from South Africa
00:34:12maybe the verdict falls into their hands although Felix Trinidad certainly will want to try to put Hopkins on his
00:34:19back
00:34:20in round seven by copy box numbers Hopkins landed 18 punches to only six for Trinidad
00:34:26if you go by copy box numbers Hopkins has outlanded Tito in every round
00:34:32you know there are a lot of people out there who never heard of Bob Bernard Hopkins
00:34:37he hasn't had a lot of big television fights
00:34:42you're hearing about him and seeing him now
00:34:46you're seeing the hunger of a 36 year old man who's seen it a long time for this moment
00:34:51the geriatric wonder
00:34:57he don't get them
00:34:59I'm gonna see what happened in the 10th 11th 12th of the geriatrics
00:35:05he's now starting to land some hot chopping punches
00:35:09on Tito but Tito is taking him well
00:35:16And he didn't go undefeated and have 20 championship fights
00:35:19by not being able to take punches well.
00:35:24And Art is trying to make Trinidad walk into his trap.
00:35:27Now he's setting trap.
00:35:33You can go back eight years in this sport
00:35:35and you won't find a fight
00:35:36in which either man was declared a loser.
00:35:39And it's abundantly clear now
00:35:41that neither man came here tonight expecting to lose.
00:35:45Hopkins believes whether Trinidad will be able
00:35:50to beat the belief out of him remains to be seen.
00:35:52But right now Bernard is showing a multiplicity of skills
00:35:56as he continues to outbox Tito.
00:35:59I don't believe what I'm seeing.
00:36:01I don't believe it.
00:36:03And now Trinidad shuffles his own feet
00:36:07to try to dazzle Bernard.
00:36:08And Bernard says,
00:36:09You shuffle a while, I'll hit you.
00:36:14Trinidad is playing into Hopkins' hand now with the foolishness.
00:36:19His job is always, he's been always the pure business fight.
00:36:23Well, look, Tito.
00:36:24Now the man has gone to the body as much as he might.
00:36:27Maybe the critical difference will come in the next few rounds
00:36:30if one man decides to focus on the ribcage.
00:36:32They're both terrific body punches.
00:36:36I think the body punches have gone out of the window now.
00:36:41Tito ripping with both hands.
00:36:44Trying to break Bernard down with power shots.
00:36:47Hopkins countering back twice with the left hook.
00:36:55All night, Trinidad has been trying to lay on Hopkins' left hand,
00:36:58but Hopkins seems to get his left hand right out of the trap
00:37:01and hold Trinidad.
00:37:03If he's able to just lay on that left hand of Hopkins once,
00:37:06he's going to get him with that overhand right.
00:37:08No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:37:10Hopkins lands a nice right hand just after the bell
00:37:13as Smoker shouts, no, no, no, no, no.
00:37:18And here's a graphic that demonstrates the degree
00:37:22to which Hopkins has dominated CompuBox punch stat numbers
00:37:26out landing Tito Trinidad in every one of the eight rounds so far.
00:37:34Remember, the judges do not see these graphics.
00:37:38watch the ball and watch.
00:37:40Walk the ball.
00:37:42Come on with our game, the fight and smash it.
00:37:43Can you get that for me?
00:37:45All right, all right.
00:37:47Separate the champions from the legend.
00:37:48The two-three, the quick shots inside the sun,
00:37:50before getting deep now.
00:37:52Get him out of there.
00:37:53Get him out of there.
00:38:00How are we doing?
00:38:01How are we doing?
00:38:02I want to know how we doing?
00:38:04Sometimes it takes a long time to be young.
00:38:08Bernard Hopkins at 36 still seems young fighting one of the great fighters of recent times
00:38:20age has got nothing to do with it tonight all about the best fighter who can take it
00:38:30harold letterman gave tito trinidad the first round
00:38:33i think generously now even on letterman's card they're reaching the stage where trinidad would
00:38:39need a knockout to win if hopkins can stand up the rest of the way
00:38:45trinidad has tried getting those left uppercuts he's tried
00:38:50that's where he can ring home if he can get him in
00:38:55and the biggest thing hopkins has accomplished by my life is he's just refusing to bend to tito's
00:39:00real he's still making tito fight his fun all of that determination hopkins has not been one out
00:39:11made he sure you know fellas remember what mark antonio barrera did against prince ahmed everybody
00:39:21talked about him walking into big punches he came out and put on a massive show of controlled aggression
00:39:36he's been able to keep stay on his legs whenever he needed them he was able to move out of
00:39:42the way
00:39:49another big surprise is that it is so far a clean fight without a single penalized foul a shot
00:39:56the closest he came was trinidad elbowing hopkins beyond the rope
00:40:03who would fisher tell fernard hopkins if he keeps firing the dab
00:40:06he can't lose the jab he can't lose the fight he's still firing the jab energetically bad trinidad able to
00:40:12lay on hopkins left hand now
00:40:14that's what he's been trying to do all night overhand right on top of it
00:40:29that's what he's been trying to do all night overhand right on top of it
00:40:47that's what he's waiting on
00:40:48the fight hopkins is grinning at tito trinidad now they're going to hit him with the right hand
00:40:53and move out of the way and there's another big right hand and again he moves out of the way
00:41:00very smart didn't say i heard you i'm going to get you some more
00:41:03hit you and get out of the way and another right hand for hopkins this is a cold clinical totally
00:41:10professional performance by a true professional prize fighter bernard hopkins
00:41:20when you gotta throw make sure you use that jab and then the right hand
00:41:26you gotta throw more punchy don't let him push you if he starts pushing you push him back and if
00:41:34he
00:41:34comes close to you work with him
00:41:45a little bit baby a little bit
00:41:51there we see straight right hand but but hopkins is not loading up on these right hands he's throwing
00:41:59short quick punches and getting out of the way of the return like i said cold and clinical he is
00:42:08not
00:42:08allowing himself to get into the heat of trinidad fashion he's boxing moving and winning and that's hard
00:42:15to do when you hurt a guy and don't go after the finish this man is being extremely smart tonight
00:42:21hopkins once again between rounds tito trinidad asked his father if he's winning and once again
00:42:27trinidad senior said yes you are i think i think trinidad is asking that question because he doesn't
00:42:34really think he's winning no i think he wore the most discouraged look i've ever seen on his face
00:42:38between rounds harold how do you have it going into the tap okay jim seven rounds to two 88 83
00:42:45bernard hopkins you know what i can't understand is bernard hopkins and felix trinidad standing face to
00:42:50face bernard hopkins gets off first every time he lays a chair but a straight right i think felix would
00:42:54come in on an angle but he just stays right in front of him bernard gets off first and hurts
00:42:59him all the
00:42:59time when a guy is as good a puncher as trinidad he depends on that he expects that somewhere along
00:43:06the way it will play the difference and if it doesn't what are his answers against bernard hopkins
00:43:17heard that got the left hand he's leaning on the hopkins left hand now that's what he wants
00:43:22hopkins better be careful that's it
00:43:28put his weight on your left hand and throws his overhand right
00:43:32oh hopkins beating him to the punch though you know george trinidad has landed some big shots
00:43:38but he hasn't hurt hopkins after the toffee fight there seemed to be no question about trinidad's
00:43:44viability as 160 pound fighter a middleweight but maybe the question reopens itself as the result of the
00:43:50way that hopkins has been able to take trinidad punches tonight oh it's not about that hopkins has
00:43:56been extremely small tonight extremely small
00:44:01trinidad is spending a lot of himself right here because he's been taking punishment
00:44:09we're seeing that far as we want of a real champion in trinidad because he's comes for some serious fire
00:44:17this is the determination of felix trinidad is going to have to take some chances
00:44:22and it's being guided by the determination of bernard hopkins what an awesome show
00:44:27what a great great fight as we come down the stretch in the touchdown blood coming out of trinidad's nose
00:44:36bernard hopkins won't say no for an answer steve smoker trying to pull hopkins trunks up
00:44:46clock still running trinidad running out of time
00:45:12and trinidad almost looks out on his feet
00:45:18and trinidad
00:45:35can you fight another round can you fight another round let me know keep your hands up
00:45:46of the word that he's coming up
00:45:51you got to box them you got to box them 11 round coming up
00:45:58the end of the round bernard hopkins
00:46:01patience during that fight
00:46:03resulted in that round,
00:46:05but you heard the question in Trinidad's corner,
00:46:08can you fight another round?
00:46:12And that was the ring doctor
00:46:13who wanted to know if Trinidad could continue.
00:46:16So the doctors are watching Trinidad now
00:46:18as Hopkins comes off a big 10th round
00:46:21where he landed 33 of 86 punches.
00:46:23They go into the 11th.
00:46:25Hopkins has been beyond 10 rounds
00:46:2714 times in his career.
00:46:29Trinidad, 8.
00:46:30Hopkins with a prohibited lead
00:46:32on Harold Glederman's scorecard
00:46:34as we come to the last two rounds.
00:46:41It was a push.
00:46:43A lot of punches, but it was a push.
00:46:46Trinidad is very timid right now.
00:46:49Hopkins senses that Trinidad is weakening.
00:46:54Very weak.
00:46:56Got to be careful with him.
00:46:57He's still that powerful puncher.
00:46:59Good uppercut by Hopkins.
00:47:00Trinidad visibly tiring for the moment.
00:47:14Bernard Hopkins bet $100,000
00:47:17on himself to win the fight.
00:47:21Because he doesn't want to lose $100,000.
00:47:40This is another huge round for Hopkins.
00:47:44Trinidad has landed maybe two punches in the round.
00:47:48Bernard is taking target practice.
00:47:51I doubt if his corner will let him come out
00:47:54for another round.
00:47:55Don't punch, don't punch, don't punch.
00:47:56Don't punch.
00:47:56Don't punch. Thank you.
00:47:57His daddy's still telling him he's winning.
00:47:59No, his dad may have to tell him to sit it out.
00:48:02Put your arm, put your arm.
00:48:05Hopkins is dangerous now.
00:48:07All of a sudden, he's starting to smell victory
00:48:09and even a knockout.
00:48:10And he's patient with it.
00:48:15Overwhelmingly pro-Trinidad crowd
00:48:17trying to lift their man.
00:48:20Hopkins just keeps pounding away.
00:48:24Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.
00:48:31No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, break, break.
00:48:33Step back, step back, step back.
00:48:34Step back, hands up, hands up.
00:48:36Step back, step back, step back.
00:48:42Step back, step back.
00:48:43Step back, step back.
00:48:45Step back, step back.
00:48:45Step back, step back.
00:48:46Astonishing, absolutely astonishing performance.
00:48:49Sometimes when a fighter is labeled a kind of a genius,
00:48:53he's bound to disappoint you.
00:48:57Big right hand by Huckett.
00:49:00This guy has got a fox and a terro.
00:49:03Bernard Huckett.
00:49:05We would not expect he's been dead and more.
00:49:08Everything.
00:49:09Bernard Huckett is hurt from the accumulation of punishment
00:49:11as round 11 comes to a close.
00:49:20Look at good, look at good, son.
00:49:22You can't say that now.
00:49:24Last round coming up, you've got to close.
00:49:26You've got to close, baby.
00:49:27All right?
00:49:28What about it here?
00:49:29Close, baby.
00:49:29Last round.
00:49:30Last round, baby.
00:49:31How you look?
00:49:32Soldiers, do what you do.
00:49:34Let me clean his nose.
00:49:38Let me clean his nose.
00:49:38This is the last round.
00:49:40How you feeling, Tito?
00:49:41How you feeling?
00:49:43I'm OK.
00:49:45You've got to use that jab when you come in.
00:49:47Now, he's going to come out to you now.
00:49:50Let me see my back.
00:49:53Let me see my back.
00:49:53Let me see my back.
00:49:55Let me see my back.
00:49:56Put the water, boy.
00:49:57You on.
00:49:58You got it all, baby.
00:49:59It's in the computer.
00:50:00Last round.
00:50:01Let me see.
00:50:02Let me see.
00:50:03Let me see.
00:50:03Tito Trinidad threw only 14 punches in the 11th round.
00:50:07He looked like a fighter with very little left in the tank.
00:50:11Now, let's see what he's got for what might be the last round of his career.
00:50:17Harold, how do you have it coming to the 12th?
00:50:19I'll catch him.
00:50:20108, 101.
00:50:21Nine rounds to two.
00:50:23Burnout Hopkins.
00:50:24I only gave Tito Trinidad round one and six.
00:50:28All the rest to Burnout Hopkins boxing beautifully from the outside.
00:50:31Get out.
00:50:31Get out.
00:50:33Hopkins better go for safety and get a knockout.
00:50:36You just can't trust judges.
00:50:37Well, Hopkins still wants to fight.
00:50:39He's not sitting on his lead.
00:50:41He's seen somebody try to do that against Trinidad without success.
00:50:49Hopkins imposing his will and his skill on the man who is tonight, the lesser fighter.
00:51:00Trinidad continues to come.
00:51:03He'll never quit.
00:51:04No retreat.
00:51:09Oh, huge right hand.
00:51:11Huge right hand by Hopkins.
00:51:14Down goes Trinidad.
00:51:15Whoa.
00:51:16I'm not sure Tito can get up.
00:51:18He's got the desire.
00:51:20He's never been knocked out.
00:51:22This fight is over.
00:51:24Steve Smoker stops it.
00:51:26No.
00:51:27Bernard.
00:51:28Tito Trinidad comes in.
00:51:30He's done it.
00:51:31He knocked out Trinidad.
00:51:33Bernard Hopkins has put himself up there in the list of all the great middleweights.
00:51:40His 14th consecutive defense of his title.
00:51:47Trinidad a beaten man.
00:51:49He was beaten boxing.
00:51:51And then he was beaten physically.
00:51:54He was beaten with the smarts of Bernard Hopkins.
00:51:59He was beaten with the heart of Bernard Hopkins.
00:52:03What a performance.
00:52:05I'd like to find my words so I could eat them.
00:52:08Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
00:52:10Oh, what brilliance.
00:52:11Oh, what brilliance.
00:52:12Here's a guy who tonight, just as he has through his whole career, did it his way.
00:52:19He insisted on his individuality, his right to govern his career and his life on his own terms.
00:52:26It cost him a lot.
00:52:28He got it all back tonight.
00:52:29You know, there was a lot of inspiration in New York City for the United States flag.
00:52:33And he bit into the inspiration.
00:52:36There's your winner.
00:52:38There's your winner in a big way.
00:52:39And that Felix Tito Trinidad, who had never before been so physically beaten up in his career, never before knocked
00:52:47out, goes down in the middle of the 12th round and cannot continue as Bernard Hopkins punctuates a huge and
00:52:57thrilling and unexpected victory with a sensational power shot show in the 12th round.
00:53:02Oh, what a right hand, George.
00:53:04What a right hand.
00:53:05Every shot.
00:53:06This guy was so, I never thought his legs could last.
00:53:09But I guess those 150 pounds, exactly what he needed to move around.
00:53:14He tripped.
00:53:15157 pounds, three pounds under the limit.
00:53:17Some people thought, oh, no, he'll be too weak.
00:53:20He wasn't too weak.
00:53:21He was too strong.
00:53:22He tripped us all.
00:53:23He tripped us.
00:53:26A thoroughly dominant performance from start to finish.
00:53:29Hopkins, by CompuBox numbers, landing more punches than Trinidad in every single round of the fight.
00:53:36Hopkins never did anything dirty.
00:53:38The referee had not a chance to disqualify him.
00:53:40No, it was a great, great fight all the way through.
00:53:43Never did anything dirty.
00:53:45And what a show of determination to will by Felix Trinidad.
00:53:48Thoroughly beaten throughout most of the fight, but fighting like a winner who believed in himself.
00:53:53He never stopped trying.
00:53:54Never stopped trying.
00:53:55A champion to the end.
00:53:59Scorecards show that Hopkins was headed for the easy victory.
00:54:03On the American scorecard of Don Ackerman, he was up 109 to 100, going to the 12th.
00:54:09On Stanley Cristodulo, South Africa's scorecard, he was up 107 to 102.
00:54:14And on Anak Hongtongkamp's card, the scorer from Thailand, he was up 107 to 102.
00:54:21So Hopkins had won the fight on the scorecards as they entered the 12th, just as we expected was the
00:54:27case.
00:54:28Without any trust of the judges, he went for the knockout.
00:54:31Now let's go to Jimmy Lennon Jr. to announce the official particulars on Hopkins' triumph.
00:54:36Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time of one minute, 18 seconds in round number 12.
00:54:44Our referee in charge, Steve Smoger, recognizes the corner and stops the contest.
00:54:51The winner by way of technical knockout, tonight earning his place in boxing history,
00:54:56as he is now the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, Bernard, the executioner, Hopkins.
00:55:13Final CompuBox numbers.
00:55:15And increasingly throughout the fight, it became a CompuBox landslide for Hopkins.
00:55:21Landing 131 more punches, throwing 324 more punches, landing at a higher connect percentage.
00:55:30To the shock and surprise of many, landing the bigger power shots, winning big and going away.
00:55:37Final power punch numbers.
00:55:39Hopkins landing 68 more, throwing 165 more, dominating increasingly down the stretch.
00:55:45But, again, what can you say about one of the most shockingly brilliant performances we've seen in the ring in
00:55:51recent years?
00:55:52And Larry Merton stands by now with the winner.
00:55:56Thank you very much, Jim.
00:55:58I ain't great yet, but I will be.
00:56:00Bernard Hopkins is telling people, I'm not great yet, but I will be.
00:56:05At 36, he still thinks he has time to get better.
00:56:12Bernard, why were you able to master a fighter who was considered so devastating?
00:56:20Well, first, Larry, I'd like to thank HBO, all the people.
00:56:23I'd like to thank my advisor and my friend, and my friend, Lou DiBella,
00:56:28for giving me the opportunity not to take the bad rap that was on Bernard Hopkins.
00:56:32And I'd like to thank you for being, not biased, but being truthful, and everybody at HBO.
00:56:36So, Larry, I'd like to first, you know, hope that the troops and veins work out okay with America.
00:56:41USA is strong.
00:56:42We would knock anybody out to try to go against us.
00:56:45Larry, I train hard for this fight.
00:56:47You know, I always have a good sound bite to give everyone.
00:56:49I'm not a dull guy.
00:56:51But I wanted to show my greatness, and I believe I came halfway doing that.
00:56:54Was there a little misdirection in you indicating that you were just going to try to dive into him
00:57:02and smother him when you knew all along that you felt that you could show the skills to outbox him
00:57:08that people didn't think you had?
00:57:10Yes, Larry.
00:57:11One thing I knew, and I mentioned it all through the media, I said,
00:57:15once Trinidad find out he can't hurt me, the fight's over.
00:57:18You know, Larry, I got one of the fill up for your chins, iron chins,
00:57:23but I just happen to have skills with it.
00:57:25But I knew, Larry, that if I take my time, set my shots up,
00:57:28as long as the fight comes, the more pain that I was going to put on Trinidad.
00:57:32I'd just like to thank HBO for giving me the opportunity,
00:57:34and I'd just like to thank you for saying the good things about me when I do good.
00:57:37I ain't going to let you talk.
00:57:38How were you able to avoid his potent left hand?
00:57:44Well, Larry, you take the best weapon from the guy that you're using against.
00:57:47If the guy has a gun, you try to get you the gun.
00:57:50You don't run from it because you've got a better chance on smothering
00:57:52or you've got a better chance on getting to the gun.
00:57:55I had to take his left hand away from him and smother his shots and keep my defense up.
00:57:58I'm not known for my good defense, but I do have a good defense as well as an offense.
00:58:02Trinidad is a left hook guy.
00:58:04That's all he had, and I've been watching him for years.
00:58:06Once I took his left hook away, and every time he set up,
00:58:09I watched his leg and his feet, and I knew to move to the opposite way.
00:58:12All right, let's take a look at the last round at the knockout.
00:58:16Now, you knew he was weakening from several rounds before this, right?
00:58:20Yes.
00:58:21I knew right about the fourth round when I knew I hit him with a good counter-right hook,
00:58:26and he sort of dazed, and he said,
00:58:28and I wanted to follow up but not follow up recklessly
00:58:31because I know he's got a piece of dish in the left hook,
00:58:33but he never hurt me, Larry.
00:58:35I mean it.
00:58:35He never hurt me, no shape for him in this fight.
00:58:39All right, so in the last couple of rounds,
00:58:41you were fighting with more abandon than the control you were fighting in before.
00:58:47Yes, I was doing just that.
00:58:50Larry, you know, I don't know what you're going to do after this fight,
00:58:51this interview stuff, but you ought to be a trainer in the corner
00:58:55because you got the blueprint of Bernard Hopkins, and you read it well.
00:58:59Exactly.
00:59:00Just what you said is what I was doing.
00:59:01God bless the fire department.
00:59:03God bless the fire department and the Philadelphia, you know, the police, Philadelphia,
00:59:07all around the world.
00:59:08You know, Larry, they're all the warriors.
00:59:10I'm serious.
00:59:10What does it mean to you now to have tied Carlos Monzon's middleweight record of 14 consecutive defenses?
00:59:19It's great, Larry.
00:59:20It's history.
00:59:21But I want to be judged by my peers, not by me reading my own articles.
00:59:24I think when it's all done, Bernard Hopkins will be known as one of the greatest middleweights that came along
00:59:29at all times.
00:59:30I don't want to say that.
00:59:32I want the world and the public to judge me, and I can live whatever they come up with.
00:59:35But in my heart, in my heart, I knew that I would get another chance in life to redeem myself
00:59:40from what I used to be and to what I am now.
00:59:42I can show an example not only for boxing but for people in general.
00:59:45Larry, I am the American dream.
00:59:47I am the American story.
00:59:49Thank you very much, Bernard.
00:59:51Congratulations again.
00:59:52Larry, as always, you're looking younger, not older.
00:59:55So do you.
00:59:57And now with Hopkins still lingering in the ring, Larry stands by with the loser, Felix Trinidad.
01:00:03Trinidad, I thank you.
01:00:05It wasn't for you getting this tournament, I wouldn't have got a chance to show my greatness.
01:00:08But any time, hold up, I'm not just saying this ain't politics.
01:00:11I run my own show.
01:00:12I'm my own manager.
01:00:12Whenever you need a chance to redeem yourself, I got to get the minions.
01:00:16We can do it.
01:00:17I'm not a guy that duck people, all right?
01:00:20That's on record.
01:00:20Y'all hear that, reporters?
01:00:21Great show, Trinidad.
01:00:23I will come back to San Juan.
01:00:24Listen, me and Lou DeBelle Entertainment, Don King, will come back to San Juan, and I'm a man.
01:00:29I will apologize to the Puerto Rican fans for throwing the flag down from my heart because that's a true
01:00:33champion.
01:00:34We set it up within a month, and I'll be there.
01:00:37Is that good?
01:00:39I hope y'all accept it.
01:00:41Don, you hear that?
01:00:42I want to do it.
01:00:43I want to do it.
01:00:43I want to do it.
01:00:48I want to do it in San Juan.
01:00:49Okay.
01:00:50I would like in the same arena, and I would apologize to the Puerto Rican fans, but they
01:00:55are great people.
01:00:55They are my people.
01:00:56They got black in them.
01:00:57All right.
01:00:58One second.
01:01:14He says he would go to Puerto Rico and ask him to be forgiven for what he did.
01:01:19I would love for him to do that.
01:01:21Thank you very much.
01:01:23Tito, were you surprised or shocked at how well Bernhard Hopkins was able to box?
01:01:49I've always said that Bernhard Hopkins was a great fighter and a good boxer.
01:01:53I came to win.
01:01:54He beat me tonight.
01:01:55I accept it.
01:01:57All right.
01:01:57Tell us, Tito, before the fight, they made you re-wrap your hands in a different way,
01:02:04with only one layer of gauze and tape instead of two layers of tape.
01:02:09Did that affect your power?
01:02:33I'm a great puncher.
01:02:35It doesn't matter how my hands were bandaged.
01:02:37It was just, that's the way it went.
01:02:39But did you realize toward the end of the fight that you needed a knockout to win?
01:02:53It's possible.
01:02:54I really think that the fight was pretty close.
01:03:00I'll repeat, Bernhard is a great fighter.
01:03:12It was possible that I might have needed a knockout, but I thought that the fight was very close
01:03:18and that I could still win without having to knock him out.
01:03:21When you went down at the end, how surprising was that for you having never, ever lost a professional?
01:03:32The first fight that could be made in the world right now would be Hopkins versus Delahoya.
01:03:37Whether it can be made is another story.
01:03:40After the fight, Trinidad told some Spanish-language newspapers that he wanted a rematch.
01:03:46We'll see about that.
01:03:47Jones, Jones, Mosley, more likely Hopkins will fight a mandatory challenger to break the record
01:03:55and go to 15 straight victories as a middleweight champion.
01:04:00Finally, after this fight, this past week, it was revealed that Madison Square Garden had decided
01:04:08that because of some of Bernard Hopkins' pre-fight incendiary antics,
01:04:14they didn't ever want him in the Garden again.
01:04:18My judgment, nothing but petty political correctness.
01:04:23Bernard Hopkins added to the boxing history of Madison Square Garden.
01:04:28Madison Square Garden subtracted.
01:04:31And while the Garden has been turning its back on Bernard Hopkins,
01:04:35in the Cradle of Liberty in Philadelphia today,
01:04:37they had a victory parade for their hometown middleweight champion.
01:04:42Well, an unexpected night in Madison Square Garden.
01:04:45We had some unexpected results here in Corpus Christi.
01:04:48Earlier, a bout took place here on the undercard,
01:04:51which we were not able to show you live on the air,
01:04:53involving Mark Johnson on the left.
01:04:55Mark Tusharp Johnson, former 112 and 115-pound star,
01:04:58fighting against a tough Mexican fighter named Rafael Marquez.
01:05:02In the early portions of the fight,
01:05:05it appeared that Johnson was too quick and too fluid for Marquez.
01:05:09But Marquez hung in deliberately
01:05:11and continued to try to work Johnson's body and head throughout the fight.
01:05:15The 12th round was a tremendous toe-to-toe battle.
01:05:19And with the rising crowd support in favor of Marquez,
01:05:24that fighter built his tempo throughout the fight,
01:05:26and though sustaining a lot of punishment from Johnson in the late rounds,
01:05:29fought him toe-to-toe,
01:05:31and it turned out to be a very close fight on the judges' scorecards.
01:05:35At first, Johnson was announced in the ring
01:05:38as a split decision winner of the fight.
01:05:41Later, a clarification of the scorecards
01:05:44and a quick look at the two penalty points,
01:05:47which had been deducted from Johnson for holding Marquez.
01:05:51Ultimately, they came back two hours after the fight,
01:05:54changed the result.
01:05:56Marquez becomes the winner.
01:05:58Johnson, the loser,
01:05:59a serious blow to Mark Johnson's ambitions
01:06:02to chase a world title in a higher weight class
01:06:05than the two classes in which he has previously fought.
01:06:08It was a heck of a spectator attraction,
01:06:10and so too was the fight we showed you earlier,
01:06:12Julio Diaz against Angel Manfredi,
01:06:15a fight which was cast as a showcase
01:06:17for young Diaz, the 21-year-old lightweight prospect,
01:06:21but Diaz came a cropper
01:06:23as the result of low blow deductions
01:06:25in both the fourth and ninth rounds.
01:06:27There were the two low blows
01:06:29which caused points to be deducted from Diaz,
01:06:32and as the result of that,
01:06:33when he went into the 12th round
01:06:35and found himself in a very close fight,
01:06:37Angel Manfredi built the tempo,
01:06:39was able to throw more punches in the 12th round
01:06:42than had been the case before,
01:06:43and despite the fact that he fought through a bloody eye
01:06:47in the entire latter half of the bout,
01:06:50as did Diaz,
01:06:51Manfredi came on to gain a split decision victory,
01:06:54a huge victory for the lightweight veteran Manfredi,
01:06:58and the loss,
01:06:59which for the moment stymies Diaz's ambition
01:07:01to become a championship-level fighter in the sport.
01:07:05Surely we'll see both of them a little bit later on.
01:07:08Here's how the judges saw it.
01:07:09Judge Bill Clancy, 114-112 in favor of Manfredi.
01:07:15The judge from Texas, 114-112 in favor of Julio Diaz.
01:07:20And the third judge, 115-112 in favor of Manfredi.
01:07:25Had Diaz not lost the two points,
01:07:28which were deducted for low blows,
01:07:30it would have turned out to be a draw.
01:07:33Next big event here on HBO Pay-Per-View,
01:07:37and we've got some events in between,
01:07:38a fight involving Floyd Mayweather and Jesus Chavez on November 10,
01:07:42but Emmanuel Stewart on November 17.
01:07:45Your former heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis,
01:07:47tries to regain the title against Hasim Rahman.
01:07:49Now, what should we expect in the rematch of Rahman Lewis?
01:07:52I don't like that word, former.
01:07:54I'm sure Lennox doesn't either, but it's a fact.
01:07:57Lennox said that on the 17th of November,
01:08:00everything expires for Hasim Rahman.
01:08:02He's training with a lot of dedication, totally focused.
01:08:05Everything is just the opposite of what he was doing the last time.
01:08:09He would be in great shape,
01:08:10he would be more focused, more intense,
01:08:12and the results should be reversed by a knockout.
01:08:15But, Manny, Rahman did it once.
01:08:16Yes, I know, and I have a lot of respect for Hasim Rahman.
01:08:19I have to after what he did.
01:08:21I know that Hasim is training very hard also,
01:08:23and he's trying to prove to the world
01:08:25that it was not a one-punch wonder, as Lennox has labeled it.
01:08:29And he's very focused.
01:08:31Now, he's a champion.
01:08:32He is a star himself.
01:08:33He has a following.
01:08:35They tell me that the casino is just about sold out
01:08:37with people from Baltimore buying up all of the tickets.
01:08:40So it's going to be a fight this time.
01:08:42It should be a very, very dramatic fight.
01:08:44And by the way, before we leave,
01:08:47I want to take this time to extend a congratulations to you.
01:08:49I understand you're going to be inducted
01:08:51into the World Boxing Hall of Fame October the 20th,
01:08:55along with the great Don King,
01:08:56Jose Sulemane, Denny Moya,
01:08:58and one of my old former champions, Abram Pryor.
01:09:02Uncomfortable as I am with public recognition.
01:09:04I'm a little bit embarrassed by that,
01:09:05but thank you very much, Emmanuel.
01:09:06I appreciate the kudos.
01:09:08All right, we'll have a final word
01:09:09on what happened here in the ring in Corpus Christi
01:09:11in just a moment.
01:09:12Right now, let's look ahead
01:09:13to some upcoming programs on HBO.
01:09:16One of the most famous death row stories
01:09:18in American history.
01:09:20Told by the producers of Oz.
01:09:23Shot one man in front of his family.
01:09:25And the other man smiled at you.
01:09:32Do you like my shoelaces?
01:09:33What if they were on my neck?
01:09:38Shot in the Heart.
01:09:41Premieres Saturday, October 13th on HBO.
01:09:44On the next, Real Sports.
01:09:46For the past 30 years,
01:09:48Northern Ireland has been plagued
01:09:49by its share of terrorist attacks
01:09:51between Catholics and Protestants.
01:09:52But despite the violence,
01:09:53some courageous people are uniting children
01:09:55from both sides by holding a sports camp
01:09:57that allows young athletes to learn
01:09:59how to reduce the hatred.
01:10:00Bernie Goldberg explores this powerful
01:10:02athletic quest for peace.
01:10:04Plus, food supplements are unregulated
01:10:06by the U.S. government.
01:10:07And one such supplement, ephedrine,
01:10:08has turned up frequently in athletes
01:10:10who collapse and even die on the field.
01:10:12Ephedrine is actually related to amphetamine.
01:10:15Jim Lampley investigates an industry
01:10:16that seems to answer to no one.
01:10:18Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
01:10:20premieres Tuesday, October 16th on HBO.
01:10:23Nothing is out of bounds.
01:10:25And more boxing comes your way November 10th
01:10:28when Floyd Mayweather defends
01:10:29his 130-pound championship
01:10:30against Jesus Chavez
01:10:32and 122-pound title holder Manny Pacquiao
01:10:35punching monster battles to Acapito Sanchez.
01:10:38And a week later on HBO Pay-Per-View,
01:10:39the rematch between Haseem Rachman and Lennox Lewis
01:10:41when they met in South Africa back in April.
01:10:44A Rachman running right hand shocked the world
01:10:46and he returned home heavyweight champion.
01:10:48Can he do it again?
01:10:50Or will Lewis reclaim the belt?
01:10:52He's coming up November 17 on HBO Pay-Per-View.
01:10:55HBO, the heart and soul of boxing.
01:11:02And next on HBO, we invite you to stay tuned
01:11:05for the brilliant Band of Brothers.
01:11:07So now for the entire HBO crew,
01:11:10I'm Jim Lampley saying goodnight
01:11:11from Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas.
01:11:15The executive producer of HBO Sports is Rick Bernstein.
01:11:18Trinidad vs. Hopkins was produced by David Harmon.
01:11:21Tonight's edition of World Championship Boxing
01:11:23was produced by Thomas Odelfeld.
01:11:24Both fights were directed by Mark Payton.
01:11:27The associate directors, Israel De Herrera,
01:11:30Thomas Uphine, Brian Lockhart, and David Hoffman.
01:11:32Assistant to the producer, Greg Stern,
01:11:34and ab team, Spike Motia.
01:11:36Production manager, Mark Hayden.
01:11:38Technical supervisor, Bob Hunter.
01:11:40Director, and the technical director was Doug Getz.
01:11:55Mitt Hayden.
01:12:11The theater of theτά
01:12:29This has been a presentation of HBO Sports, the network of champions.
01:12:43Next on HBO, Easy Company undertakes a deadly rescue mission.
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