First off, it's me again with another question regarding perceptions and thoughts going into another megafight from the past. I wasn't following boxing as I started in late 2006, but having become enamored with the sport, and given Hopkins' recent win, here is my question:
In 2001, when Hopkins and Trinidad faced off to compete for the undisputed middleweight title, what were your thoughts on the fight? How was it perceived by the general media (or the experts) on how it would play out? I was only 15 at the time, and the only thing I can recall was my mother (a huge Tito fan) saying that Tito was going to get thrashed because Hopkins was a "prison man." I can't remember what my father had to say prior to the fight, though I should've paid attention because he was an avid follower of the sport, and still is. Another thing I can recall from the day of the fight was my parents in the other room and my mom going "Ayyyyy, Titooooooooo..." during the fight. That's the only thing I can remember.
Were there any Hopkins fans here? Did anybody believe he would stick around for any longer. Looking back on it, either his victory over Trinidad or last night's victory were probably his biggest WINS to date (not accomplishments, WINS), though feel free to disagree.
I just would like to hear some stories and anecdotes coming into this fight and/or reactions when Hopkins knocked out Trinidad. I mean, I can appreciate and comprehend how big that was, but it's a shame I wasn't around to follow the sport, that would've probably been one of those spine-tingling moments for me, considering Tito was a young, undefeated, power-punching fighter in Madison Square Garden with a legion of followers...and he gets outboxed, embarrassed, outgunned, and mauled for 11 rounds...and then to punctuate it, Hopkins knocks him out in the last round for an incredible last round KO...and the guy is 35, where in many cases a boxer at this age is on his way out or way past it. Un-freaking-believable...and he is STILL around.
This is the kind of stuff that you'd get lynched for if you had predicted it back in 2000 way before Hopkins came into the spotlight...
In 2001, when Hopkins and Trinidad faced off to compete for the undisputed middleweight title, what were your thoughts on the fight? How was it perceived by the general media (or the experts) on how it would play out? I was only 15 at the time, and the only thing I can recall was my mother (a huge Tito fan) saying that Tito was going to get thrashed because Hopkins was a "prison man." I can't remember what my father had to say prior to the fight, though I should've paid attention because he was an avid follower of the sport, and still is. Another thing I can recall from the day of the fight was my parents in the other room and my mom going "Ayyyyy, Titooooooooo..." during the fight. That's the only thing I can remember.
Were there any Hopkins fans here? Did anybody believe he would stick around for any longer. Looking back on it, either his victory over Trinidad or last night's victory were probably his biggest WINS to date (not accomplishments, WINS), though feel free to disagree.
I just would like to hear some stories and anecdotes coming into this fight and/or reactions when Hopkins knocked out Trinidad. I mean, I can appreciate and comprehend how big that was, but it's a shame I wasn't around to follow the sport, that would've probably been one of those spine-tingling moments for me, considering Tito was a young, undefeated, power-punching fighter in Madison Square Garden with a legion of followers...and he gets outboxed, embarrassed, outgunned, and mauled for 11 rounds...and then to punctuate it, Hopkins knocks him out in the last round for an incredible last round KO...and the guy is 35, where in many cases a boxer at this age is on his way out or way past it. Un-freaking-believable...and he is STILL around.
This is the kind of stuff that you'd get lynched for if you had predicted it back in 2000 way before Hopkins came into the spotlight...
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