THE FIGHT FOR SEPTEMBER'S HEROES
HOPKINS DECLARES WAR, TITO GUARANTEES VICTORY

(by Jack Purcell) (September 26, 2001, New York City)

Don King dedicated Saturday nights "Heavyweight Championship of the Middleweight Division" to "September's Heroes" the firefighters and police officers that lost their lives in the terrorist attack at the Trade Center. "Don't let the terrorist win twice!" King proclaimed before announcing that he, Felix Trinidad and Hasim Rahman were each donation $500,000 to the relief effort. "I would love to see a fire truck rolling through the streets of this great city with the names of my boxer on it."

Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, looking fit in a red warm up suit and black doo-rag emblazoned with the word "WAR" took the podium first. "Come Saturday night, you will respect the man. Trinidad's term is up. Tito must go." He continued to agonize Team Trinidad by placing a bag of rice and beans in front of Tito as his "last supper."

Felix Trinidad Sr. stepped to the podium and calmly stated, "Mr. Hopkins, Saturday night in the ring it will feel as if every person inside Roberto Clemente Stadium (in Puerto Rico) watching the fight will be hitting you."

Tito, in great shape as always, guaranteed victory. "I have given you two extra weeks to polish my crown."

Let's take a look at some of the determining factors in this battle for the Sugar Ray Robinson trophy:

EXPERIENCE: Both fighters are battle-tested champions. While Trinidad has continued to step up in weight, Hopkins has made his bones in the middleweight division. A win Saturday would eclipse the record of Carlos Monzon for most consecutive title defenses. Lou DiBella has brought Hopkins to the superstar status that he deserved earlier in his career while every fight for Trinidad in the past three years has been a Big Money fight. Edge: EVEN

RING GENERALSHIP: Hopkins hasn't been around the block, he made the block. Tito, while no angel himself, is not in Hopkins league when it comes to the effective use of head, shoulders and elbows. Edge: Hopkins

CONDITIONING: Both fighters appear to be in great shape but Trinidad's training camps are grueling as a rule. Pop said the kid sparred 228 rounds for this fight. This is where the age factor enters the picture. There is no doubt that each fighter is prepared to go the distance. Edge: Trinidad.

While "on paper" this looks like a fight that can go either way, Trinidad is a prohibitive favorite. Why? Power. Tito is one of the biggest punchers in the business. If Hopkins comes at Tito early, this fight could be over early, like first round early. Papa Trinidad knows the deeper this fight goes, the more it plays into Hopkins hands. Plus, he does not want to get his son involved in a foul-fest and disregard the game plan, which I believe to be an early knockout.

Harold "Shadow" Knight, co-trainer of Lennox Lewis says "This is gonna be a tough fight. I can see Hopkins going down once or twice but I see Tito hitting the canvass too. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the fighters gets thrown out of the ring. I see Trinidad with a late stoppage or decision win."

This is a fight which Trinidad believes will lift him to "legendary" status. Hopkins will continue to come, there is no quit in the man, but he will continue to go down. Tito learned the potential danger by keeping Vargas around. He will not make this mistake again. I see him going for the early KO and getting it inside of five.