Why Was Trinidad Such A Big Favorite Vs Hopkins

[Ivich]

You have to ask yourself who did Hopkins fight up to that point in his career. Tito had the better resume. Before the fight I was asking my boxing pals if Tito was tough enough. I know he had the skills along with good speed and some pop in his punch. You have to be tough in order to beat Hopkins. plus, Hopkins was a very smart fighter. So, on paper Tito was the betting favorite. The fight is not fought on paper.

I get my picks wrong as often as I get them right, and I'm a Trinidad fan and find Hopkins boring but I expected B Hop to win ,and by stoppage.

[DooGee#33]

But DLH beat Trinidad in most peoples view so why was Tito losing so un thinkable ?

DelaHoya didn't beat Trinidad thoroughly or decisively as you stated. Oscar did build a lead on the cards but not as big a margin as many claim.

With Trinidad winning the last 4 rounds 0scar did more than leave the door open..There were too many rounds that night with little action as DelaHoya was doing all he could not fight.

I've always felt that was a fair decision. Trinidad was the aggressor but 1 point in either direction was reasonable as was a draw.

Tito took the momentum from that win up to 154 to detrone Olympic Gold Medalist David Reid Then he unified the titles with a spectacular win over the tough undefeated Fernnando Vargas. The bout with Vargas sent Trinidads stock up further. That was an all time great fight.

Trinidad moves up to 160 and decapitates WBA champion William Joppy.

Felix Trinidad built himself into a SuperStar by knocking guys out. Hopkins was not well known. He was 36 years old. Bernard was not a spectacular performer. He was smart, tested, airtight defense,big strong for that division.

All told Felix got picked apart by a professor of boxing. He went down punching after trying to get into Hopkins he took a beating at the same time proved he was 100% champion in defeat.

[Brother Mouzone]

Being from PR TITO was my fav fighter , I remember getting this PPV w/ a couple of friends watched in shock as The executioner took care of business ...........Not in a million years did I think he would lose that fight .

[_Rexy_]

Hopkins was old, and prior to the middleweight tournament he was basically thought of as an underwhelming IBF champ who only fought mandatories.

[Dr. Z]

Bernard Hopkins made 12 consecutive title defenses as a middleweight and Tito was the smaller guy moving up. Also Tito had been throughly out boxed by Oscar De La Hoya and been giving a controversial decision?

I wasnt around watching boxing then so please help me understand why was Trinidad a 3/1 favorite?

Because of the betting public loved a welter weight sized guy fighting a natural middle weight in this match. I thought Hopkins would destroy the smaller and more limited Tito. And he did, but mixed in some tricky fouls along the way.

I give you a free tip. ALWAYS bet the natural middle over the welter especially when the middle has a skills edge and height and reach edge. You will win 9 out if 10 times.

[QueensburyRules]

But DLH beat Trinidad in most peoples view so why was Tito losing so un thinkable ?

- - People thought Oscar was much better than Poppy then, so of course fans up to their eyeballs in Tito gonna lose big time on the Poppy fight, probably his best career fight where weeks from post 9/11 he had all the Americans cheering for him for the first time in his miserable life.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - People thought Oscar was much better than Poppy then, so of course fans up to their eyeballs in Tito gonna lose big time on the Poppy fight, probably his best career fight where weeks from post 9/11 he had all the Americans cheering for him for the first time in his miserable life.

Interesting point.

Only 18 days after 9/11 -- at the Garden. Hopkins not a NY fighter, but Phily was close enough.

Tito not a foreigner, but close enough to play the role as one.

Re The crowd: I'll bet that was a Hopkins night. Certainly unfair to Trindad, but location and timing, it must have been a weird night.

[kara]

Because of the betting public loved a welter weight sized guy fighting a natural middle weight in this match. I thought Hopkins would destroy the smaller and more limited Tito. And he did, but mixed in some tricky fouls along the way.

I give you a free tip. ALWAYS bet the natural middle over the welter especially when the middle has a skills edge and height and reach edge. You will win 9 out if 10 times.

Because Tito was on a roll based on his level of competition and a lot of people viewed Hopkins as an old man even back then

[DooGee#33]

Interesting point.

Only 18 days after 9/11 -- at the Garden. Hopkins not a NY fighter, but Phily was close enough.

Tito not a foreigner, but close enough to play the role as one.

Re The crowd: I'll bet that was a Hopkins night. Certainly unfair to Trindad, but location and timing, it must have been a weird night.

Trinidad had the crowd. He had stayed in NY throughout the postponement. The Puerto Rican faithful showed up. Hopkins did play up the patriotic angle on his way in.

[Dr. Z]

Because Tito was on a roll based on his level of competition and a lot of people viewed Hopkins as an old man even back then

That is true, But Hopkins was the naturally bigger man and more skilled.