I don't think much of the win over DLH. DLH never proved much above 154 other than the fact that he could be fat and get a gift over Felix Sturm. Although to be fair, Hopkins did agree to a catchweight of 158 and made 156.
The win over Tito, however, was a great win. I don't like how it's so often underrated by saying "Tito was a welterweight". Tito WAS a welterweight, a huge one, who'd left the division in 1997. He came back to chase a big money fight with DLH. I remember Merchant saying "Trinidad really should be at 154" Tito had weight problems at 147 for years, he was a big welter. Tito had just destroyed the consensus #2 MW in the world in Joppy and was a 3-1 favorite over Hopkins. 15 of 20 polled by The Ring picked Tito. And it wasn't like Hopkins beat Tito with his size, he outboxed, out-skilled, out-thought Trinidad. That was a great win.
The win over Tito, however, was a great win. I don't like how it's so often underrated by saying "Tito was a welterweight". Tito WAS a welterweight, a huge one, who'd left the division in 1997. He came back to chase a big money fight with DLH. I remember Merchant saying "Trinidad really should be at 154" Tito had weight problems at 147 for years, he was a big welter. Tito had just destroyed the consensus #2 MW in the world in Joppy and was a 3-1 favorite over Hopkins. 15 of 20 polled by The Ring picked Tito. And it wasn't like Hopkins beat Tito with his size, he outboxed, out-skilled, out-thought Trinidad. That was a great win.
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