Trinidad-Hopkins Press Conference

By Ike Enwereuzor
Jacboxing@hotmail.com

27.09.01 - The final undisputed middleweight championship press conference was held Wednesday Sept 26. It kicked off with Don King, IBF/WBC middleweight champion Bernard "the Executioner" Hopkins and WBA middleweight champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad (Photo by Suzanne Plunkett, AP) who came together at the Garden's Theater in New York City to announce their rescheduled meeting on Saturday September 29, at Madison Square Garden main arena. The Trinidad-Hopkins bout was originally scheduled for September 15 but was called off after last week's terror attack in the United States.

Hopkins and Trinidad spoke to the press. Here's what they had to say.. Hopkins and his people were wearing a black hats with WAR written on them. Hopkins said that he's not in mourning stage. "I understand what happened at the World Trade Center, but I have to block that out. I'm in a position to be killed or kill."

When Tito's people in the crowd were jeering and waving Puerto Rican flags as Hopkins spoke. "You can take the people out of Puerto Rico - but you can't take out the mentality."

"Just like any other exceution, you're entitle to your last meal," said Hopkins who presented Trinidad with last meal. "For this meal, I asked all of my Spanish friends back in Philly what they like to eat, they told me rice and beans." At this point Hopkins gave Trinidad a bag of rice and BeansFather, trainer and manager of Felix Trinidad, Papa Trinidad took time to respond to Hopkins. "In Puerto Rico, we do eat a lot of rice and beans, that's why we have a lot energy in the ring."

Trinidad told the press "I want to tell you there will be another victory for Puerto Rico."

He also said "You (Hopkins)have been doing many things that neither I nor other Putero Ricans like, and you know what they are. I'm not going to repeat them. But I'm going to remind you of them with my punches in the ring. I have promised that to my people that support me, love me and that fellowed my career."

As far as my fight, my father has said that I have trained hard for this fight and I like to train hard for every fight. But on this occasion I want to show Bernard Hopkins that Tito Trinidad and the Puerto Ricans are to be respected."

Promoter Don King stated that Trinidad, Hasim Rahman and himself are donating $500,000 each to a relief fund in regards to the World Trade Center terror attack where many lost their lives.